Network Layer | Main functions | Routing | Logical Addressing | Interworking | Fragmentation | Computer Network
- The Network Layer is the third layer of the OSI model.
- It handles the service requests from the transport layer and further forwards the service request to the data link layer.
- The network layer translates the logical addresses into physical addresses
- It determines the route from the source to the destination and also manages the traffic problems such as switching, routing and controls the congestion of data packets.
- The main role of the network layer is to move the packets from sending host to the receiving host.
The main functions performed by the network layer are:
- Routing: When a packet reaches the router's input link, the router will move the packets to the router's output link. For example, a packet from S1 to R1 must be forwarded to the next router on the path to S2.
- Logical Addressing: The data link layer implements the physical addressing and network layer implements the logical addressing. Logical addressing is also used to distinguish between source and destination system. The network layer adds a header to the packet which includes the logical addresses of both the sender and the receiver.
- Internetworking: This is the main role of the network layer that it provides the logical connection between different types of networks.
- Fragmentation: The fragmentation is a process of breaking the packets into the smallest individual data units that travel through different networks.
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