Flow Control in the Transport Layer

Flow control is a function for the control of the data flow within an OSI layer or between
adjacent layers. In other words it limits the amount of data transmitted by the sending
transport entity to a level, or rate, that the receiver can manage.
Flow control is a good example of a protocol function that must be implemented in several
layers of the OSI architecture model. At the transport level flow control will allow the transport
protocol entity in a host to restrict the flow of data over a logical connection from the
transport protocol entity in another host. However, one of the services of the network level is to
prevent congestion. Thus the network level also uses flow control to restrict the flow of network
protocol data units (NPDUs).
The flow control mechanisms used in the transport layer vary for the different classes of service.
Since the different classes of service are determined by the quality of service of the underlying
data network which transports the transport protocol data units (TPDUs), it is these which
influence the type of flow control used.
Thus flow control becomes a much more complex issue at the transport layer than at lower
levels like the datalink level.
Two reasons for this are:
• Flow control must interact with transport users, transport entities, and the network
service.
• Long and variable transmission delays between transport entities.
Flow control causes Queuing amongst transport users, entities, and the network service. We
take a look at the four possible queues that form and what control policies are at work here.
The transport entity is responsible for generating one or more transport protocol data units
(TPDUs) for passing onto the network layer. The network layer delivers the TPDUs to the
receiving transport entity which then takes out the data and passes it on to the destination user.
There are two reasons why the receiving transport entity would want to control the flow of
TPDUs:
• The receiving user cannot keep up with the flow of data
• The receiving transport entity itself cannot keep up with the flow of TPDUs
When we say that a user or transport entity cannot keep up with the data flow, we mean that the
receiving buffers are filling too quickly and will overflow and lose data unless the rate of
incoming data is slowed.
Four possible ways to cope with the problem are:
• Let it be and do nothing
• Refuse any more TPDUs from the network service
• Use a fixed sliding-window protocol
• Use a credit scheme
There are different issues to be considered with transport flow control over different levels of
network service. The more unreliable the network service provided the more complex flow
control mechanism that may be needed to be used by the Transport Layer. The credit scheme
works well with the different network services although specific issues need to be addressed as
with a Reliable Nonsequencing Network Service and an Unreliable Network Service.
The credit scheme seems most suited for flow control in the transport layer with all types of
network service. It gives the receiver the best control over data flow and helps provide a
smooth traffic flow. Sequence numbering of credit allocations handles the arrival of
ACK/CREDIT TPDUs out of order, and a window timer will ensure deadlock does not occur in
a network environment where TPDUs can be lost.

Session Layer Performing message synchronization. Message

synchronization is the coordination of the data transfer between the sending
session layer and the receiving session layer. Synchronization prevents the
receiving session layer from being overrun with data. This transfer is coordinated
with acknowledgement messages (ACKs). ACKs are sent back and forth between
both ends of the transfer and notify of the state of the receiving buffer to accept
additional data.

OR

Another service that is offered as a part of the Session Layer might include data
synchronization. Checksums may also be included at the Session Layer as a part
of data synchronization. A checksum is performed after each packet is transmitted
to see if applying the data from the packet to the file or stream being moved or
transmitted would cause it to have the same checksum as the file on the remote
location up to that point. If it is, then the new data may be added to the local
machine being transferred from the remote site. This is a form of error correction
for transmitted data. A familiar form of checksums in use can be seen in Z-modem
transfers as part of communications or terminal software. The wonderful part of z-
modem transfers is that it becomes possible for an interrupted z-modem download
to be resumed where it left off with a minimal amount of retransmitted data. This
may not be a method used at this layer, but it shows how using a system of
synchronization with each part of the data being transferred can allow for
interruptions to limit the problems associated with having to start the whole
transmission over again.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SWITCH N HUB:-

HUB works on Physical layer where as SWITCH works on data

link layer,HUB based networks are on one collision domain
where as in Switch based network switch divides networks into
multiple collision domains.Switch also maintains MAC address
tables.

A Simple Similie

Hub - Think of a postman with a letter to deliver in a row of

houses, none of the houses have numbers so he has to visit
each house and ask the owner if the letter is for them.

Switch - All the houses are numbered, so the postman knows

where to go, and doesn't have to bother any other home
owners.

What is the difference between a hub and a switch?

Hubs and switches are different types of network equipment that connect
devices. They differ in the way that they pass on the network traffic that they
receive.
Hubs
The term ‘hub’ is sometimes used to refer to any piece of network
equipment that connects PCs together, but it actually refers to a multi-port
repeater. This type of device simply passes on (repeats) all the information it
receives, so that all devices connected to its ports receive that information.
Hubs repeat everything they receive and can be used to extend the network.
However, this can result in a lot of unnecessary traffic being sent to all
devices on the network. Hubs pass on traffic to the network regardless of the
intended destination; the PCs to which the packets are sent use the address
information in each packet to work out which packets are meant for them. In
a small network repeating is not a problem but for a larger, more heavily
used network, another piece of networking equipment (such as a switch)
may be required to help reduce the amount of unnecessary traffic being
generated.
Switches
Switches control the flow of network traffic based on the address information
in each packet. A switch learns which devices are connected to its ports (by
monitoring the packets it receives), and then forwards on packets to the
appropriate port only. This allows simultaneous communication across the
switch, improving bandwidth.
This switching operation reduces the amount of unnecessary traffic that
would have occurred if the same information had been sent from every port
(as with a hub).
Switches and hubs are often used in the same network; the hubs extend the
network by providing more ports, and the switches divide the network into
smaller, less congested sections.
When Should I Use a Hub or Switch?
In a small network (less than 30 users), a hub (or collection of hubs) can
easily cope with the network traffic generated and is the ideal piece of
equipment to use for connecting the users.
When the network gets larger (about 50 users), you may need to use a
switch to divide the groups of hubs, to cut down the amount of unnecessary
traffic being generated.
If there is a hub or switch with Network Utilization LEDs, you can use the
LEDs to view the amount of traffic on the network. If the traffic is constantly
high, you may need to divide up the network using a switch.
When adding hubs to the network (to add more users), there are rules about
the number of hubs you can connect together. Switches can be used to
extend the number of hubs that you can use in the network.
Hub
In general, a hub is the central part of a wheel where the spokes come together. The term is
familiar to frequent fliers who travel through airport "hubs" to make connecting flights from one
point to another. In data communications, a hub is a place of convergence where data arrives
from one or more directions and is forwarded out in one or more other directions. A hub usually
includes a switch of some kind. (And a product that is called a "switch" could usually be
considered a hub as well.) The distinction seems to be that the hub is the place where data comes
together and the switch is what determines how and where data is forwarded from the place
where data comes together. Regarded in its switching aspects, a hub can also include a router.
1. In describing network topologies, a hub topology consists of a backbone (main circuit) to
which a number of outgoing lines can be attached ("dropped"), each providing one or
more connection port for device to attach to. For Internet users not connected to a local
area network, this is the general topology used by your access provider. Other common
network topologies are the bus network and the ring network. (Either of these could
possibly feed into a hub network, using a bridge.)
2. As a network product, a hub may include a group of modem cards for dial-in users, a
gateway card for connections to a local area network (for example, an Ethernet or a token
ring), and a connection to a line (the main line in this example).
Switch
In telecommunications, a switch is a network device that selects a path or circuit for sending a
unit of data to its next destination. A switch may also include the function of the router, a device
or program that can determine the route and specifically what adjacent network point the data
should be sent to. In general, a switch is a simpler and faster mechanism than a router, which
requires knowledge about the network and how to determine the route.
Relative to the layered Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communication model, a switch is
usually associated with layer 2, the Data-Link layer. However, some newer switches also
perform the routing functions of layer 3, the Network layer. Layer 3 switches are also sometimes
called IP switches.
On larger networks, the trip from one switch point to another in the network is called a hop. The
time a switch takes to figure out where to forward a data unit is called its latency. The price paid
for having the flexibility that switches provide in a network is this latency. Switches are found at
the backbone and gateway levels of a network where one network connects with another and at
the subnetwork level where data is being forwarded close to its destination or origin. The former
are often known as core switches and the latter as desktop switches.
In the simplest networks, a switch is not required for messages that are sent and received within
the network. For example, a local area network may be organized in a token ring or bus
arrangement in which each possible destination inspects each message and reads any message
with its address.
difference between switch and router??
A switch sorts and distributes the network packets sent between the devices on a local area
network (LAN), while a router is a gateway that connects two or more networks, which can be
any combination of LANs, wide area networks (WAN), or the Internet. In addition, a router uses
tables to determine the best path to use to distribute the network packets it receives, and a
protocol such as ICMP to communicate with other routers. A router is a significantly more
complicated device than a switch--essentially a specialized computer--and more advanced
models may use a reconfigurable operating system such as Linux, rather than firmware coded
directly into the hardware. Both routers and switches operate on layers 2 and 3 of the OSI model.
In an enterprise environment, routers and switches are separate physical devices dedicated to
their specific tasks. However, typical "broadband routers" for the home and small office are
actually multifunction devices that combine the capabilities of a router, a switch, and (usually) a
firewall into one box. In addition to routing traffic between the Internet and the LAN, they also
handle switching for packets between devices on the LAN, and often add additional features such
as port forwarding and triggering, a DMZ, a DHCP server, a DNS proxy, and/or network address
translation. In addition, "wi-fi routers" add a wireless access point.
Note: A hub is even simpler than a switch. Instead of inspecting the packets that it encounters
and sending them to the correct destination device, it just forwards them to all connected devices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Switch are said to be l2 device only but Router are said
to be L3 device.
2.Switch is said to be H/W Device.Router are said to be S/W
device.
3.Switch perform faster than the router because it is a H/W
Device.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Switch are basically layer2 device and it works on Hardware
technology with map the mac addresses and it works with
switch table.
Router is known as layer3 device and works alos on hardware
technology and map the mac addresses. it basically connects
two different networks or netids to each other.it works with
routing table.
-----------------------------------------------------------

1] Switch is separate collision domain. single broad cast

domain. this breakup collision domain.
Router breakup broadcast domain.

2] Switch hardware oriented. L2 devices. packet transferred

through mac address
Router Software oriented. L3 devices. packet transferred
through ip address

3] Switch connected between same network

Router connected between different network.
-----------------------------------------------------------
1)switch is considered to be an intellengent device because
there is rare chance of collsion
1)router is an important device because
it work in network layer third layer of the open system
interconnection layer
2)switch works on data link layer of the osi reference
layer,it works depond on mac address(media access control)
2)router is used to communicate two or
more different network
3)when a switch is connected to the host each time it send
a broadcast ip address and mac address
router is consider to be a software
device
4) but swich is considered to be a hardware device because
it uses a special chip call asic(application specific
integrated circuit)

ENCAPSULATION IN OSI MODEL:-

When a car is built in a factory, one person doesn't do all the jobs, rather it's put into a production
line and as the car moves through, each person will add different parts to it so when it comes to
the end of the production line, it's complete and ready to be sent out to the dealer.
The same story applies for any data which needs to be sent from one computer to another. The
OSI model which was created by the IEEE committee is to ensure that everyone follows these
guidelines (just like the production line above) and therefore each computer will be able to
communicate with every other computer, regardless of whether one computer is a Macintosh and
the other is a PC.
One important piece of information to keep in mind is that data flows 2 ways in the OSI model,
DOWN (data encapsulation) and UP (data decapsulation).
The picture below is an example of a simple data transfer between 2 computers and shows how
the data is encapsulated and decapsulated:
Explanation :
The computer in the above picture needs to send some data to another computer. The Application
layer is where the user interface exists, here the user interacts with the application he or she is
using, then this data is passed to the Presentation layer and then to the Session layer. These three
layer add some extra information to the original data that came from the user and then passes it
to the Transport layer. Here the data is broken into smaller pieces (one piece at a time
transmitted) and the TCP header is a added. At this point, the data at the Transport layer is called
a segment.
Each segment is sequenced so the data stream can be put back together on the receiving side
exactly as transmitted. Each segment is then handed to the Network layer for network addressing
(logical addressing) and routing through the internet network. At the Network layer, we call the
data (which includes at this point the transport header and the upper layer information) a packet.
The Network layer add its IP header and then sends it off to the Datalink layer. Here we call the
data (which includes the Network layer header, Transport layer header and upper layer
information) a frame. The Datalink layer is responsible for taking packets from the Network
layer and placing them on the network medium (cable). The Datalink layer encapsulates each
packet in a frame which contains the hardware address (MAC) of the source and destination
computer (host) and the LLC information which identifies to which protocol in the prevoius
layer (Network layer) the packet should be passed when it arrives to its destination. Also, at the
end, you will notice the FCS field which is the Frame Check Sequence. This is used for error
checking and is also added at the end by the Datalink layer.
If the destination computer is on a remote network, then the frame is sent to the router or
gateway to be routed to the desination. To put this frame on the network, it must be put into a
digital signal. Since a frame is really a logical group of 1's and 0's, the Physical layer is
responsible for encapsulating these digits into a digital signal which is read by devices on the
same local network.
There are also a few 1's and 0's put at the begining of the frame, only so the receiving end can
synchronize with the digital signal it will be receiving.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is a process of adding a header to wrap the data that flows down the OSI model.
Encapsulation Process
Wrapping up of data into a protocol is also known as encapsulation.
1. The Application layer, Presentation layer and Session layer create data from
user's input.
2. Encapsulation actually starts at layer 4 of the osi model where the Transport
layer convert the data into segments by adding a header containing source
and destination port numbers.
3. The Network layer convert the segments into packets (or datagram) by
adding a header containing source and destination IP address.
4. The Data link layer convert the packets into Frames by adding a header
containing source and destination MAC address and a trailer containing the
Frame check sequence(FCS)used for verifying the data integrity.
5. The Physical layer convert the frames to bits and it is transmitted through the
physical medium which can be a UTP,

6. OSI Reference Model :-

Open Systems Interconnection ( OSI ) is a standard reference model for communication
between two end users in a network. The model is used in developing products and
understanding networks. Also see the notes below the figure.
Illustration republished with permission from The manual Page .

OSI divides telecommunication into seven layers. The layers are in two groups. The upper
four layers are used whenever a message passes from or to a user. The lower three layers are
used when any message passes through the host computer. Messages intended for this
computer pass to the upper layers. Messages destined for some other host are not passed up
to the upper layers but are forwarded to another host. The seven layers are:
Layer 7: The application layer ...This is the layer at which communication partners are
identified, quality of service is identified, user authentication and privacy are considered, and
any constraints on data syntax are identified. (This layer is not the application itself, although
some applications may perform application layer functions.)
Layer 6: The presentation layer ...This is a layer, usually part of an operating system, that
converts incoming and outgoing data from one presentation format to another (for example,
from a text stream into a popup window with the newly arrived text). Sometimes called the
syntax layer.
 Layer 5: The session layer ...This layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations,
exchanges, and dialogs between the applications at each end. It deals with session and
connection coordination.
Layer 4: The transport layer ...This layer manages the end-to-end control (for example,
determining whether all packets have arrived) and error-checking. It ensures complete data
transfer.
Layer 3: The network layer ...This layer handles the routing of the data (sending it in the
right direction to the right destination on outgoing transmissions and receiving incoming
transmissions at the packet level). The network layer does routing and forwarding.
Layer 2: The data-link layer ...This layer provides synchronization for the physical level
and does bit-stuffing for strings of 1's in excess of 5. It furnishes transmission protocol
knowledge and management.
Layer 1: The physical layer ...This layer conveys the bit stream through the network at
the electrical and mechanical level. It provides the hardware means of sending and receiving
data on a carrier.

The TCP/IP model

TCP/IP is based on a four-layer reference model. All protocols that belong to the TCP/IP
protocol suite are located in the top three layers of this model.
As shown in the following illustration, each layer of the TCP/IP model corresponds to one or
more layers of the seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model proposed
by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

The types of services performed and protocols used at each layer within the TCP/IP model are
described in more detail in the following table.

Layer Description Protocols

Application Defines TCP/IP application protocols and how host HTTP, Telnet, FTP,
programs interface with transport layer services to use TFTP, SNMP, DNS,
the network. SMTP, X Windows, other
 application protocols

Provides communication session management between

Transport host computers. Defines the level of service and status TCP, UDP, RTP
of the connection used when transporting data.

Packages data into IP datagrams, which contain source

and destination address information that is used to
Internet IP, ICMP, ARP, RARP
forward the datagrams between hosts and across
networks. Performs routing of IP datagrams.

Specifies details of how data is physically sent through

the network, including how bits are electrically signaled Ethernet, Token Ring,
Network
by hardware devices that interface directly with a FDDI, X.25, Frame Relay,
interface
network medium, such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, or RS-232, v.35
twisted-pair copper wire.

For more information about ARP, IP, ICMP, IGMP, UDP, and TCP, see Understanding TCP/IP.
Note
• The OSI reference model is not specific to TCP/IP. It was developed by the ISO
in the late 1970s as a framework for describing all functions required of an
open interconnected network. It is a widely known and accepted reference
model in the data communications field and is used here only for comparison
purposes.
OR

TCP/IP Reference Model

The TCP/IP model does not same as OSI model. There is no universal agreement regarding how
to define TCP/IP with a layered model but it is generally agreed that there are fewer layers than
the seven layers of the OSI model.
TCP/IP model define 4 layers that are as follows:

1) Internet layer :
Packet switching network depends upon a connectionless internetwork layer. This layer is known
as internet layer, is the linchpin that holds the whole design together. Its job is to allow hosts to
insert packets into any network and have them to deliver independently to the destination. They
may appear in a different order than they were sent in each case it is job of higher layers to
rearrange them in order to deliver them to proper destination.

The internet layer specifies an official packet format and protocol known as internet protocol.
The job of internet layer is to transport IP packets to appropriate destination. Packet routing is
very essential task in order to avoid congestion. For these reason it is say that TCP/IP internet
layer perform same function as that of OSI network layer.

2) Transport layer :
In the TCP/IP model, the layer above the internet layer is known as transport layer. It is
developed to permit entities on the source and destination hosts to carry on a conversation. It
specifies 2 end-to-end protocols
1)TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
2)UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

1) TCP
It is a reliable connection-oriented protocol that permits a byte stream originating on one
machine to be transported without error on any machine in the internet. It divides the incoming
byte stream into discrete message and passes each one onto the internet layer. At the destination,
the receiving TCP process collects the received message into the output stream. TCP deals with
flow control to make sure a fast sender cannot swamp a slow receiver with more message than it
can handle.

2) UDP

It is an unreliable, connectionless protocol for applications that do not want TCP’s sequencing on
flow control and wish to offer their own. It is also used for client-server type request-reply
queries and applications in which prompt delivery is more important than accurate delivery such
as transmitting speech or video.

Application Layer :
In TCP/IP model, session or presentation layer are not present. Application layer is present on
the top of the Transport layer. It includes all the higher-level protocols which are virtual terminal
(TELNET), file transfer (FTP) and electronic mail (SMTP).

The virtual terminal protocol permits a user on one machine to log into a distant machine and
work there. The file transfer protocol offers a way to move data efficiently from one machine to
another. Electronic mail was used for file transfer purpose but later a specialized protocol was
developed for it.

The Application Layer defines following protocols

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

It was designed to permit reliable transfer of files over different platforms. At the transport layer
to ensure reliability, FTP uses TCP. FTP offers simple commands and makes the differences in
storage methods across networks transparent to the user. The FTP client is able to interact with
any FTP server; therefore the FTP server must also be able to interact with any FTP client. FTP
does not offer a user interface, but it does offer an application program interface for file transfer.
The client part of the protocol is called as FTP and the server part of the protocol is known as
FTPd. The suffix "d" means Daemon this is a legacy from Unix computing where a daemon is a
piece of software running on a server that offers a service.

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol

HTTP permits applications such as browsers to upload and download web pages. It makes use of
TCP at the transport layer again to check reliability. HTTP is a connectionless protocol that
sends a request, receives a response and then disconnects the connection. HTTP delivers HTML
documents plus all of the other components supported within HTML such as JavaScript, Visual
script and applets.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
By using TCP, SMTP sends email to other computers that support the TCP/IP protocol suite.
SMTP provides extension to the local mail services that existed in the early years of LANs. It
supervises the email sending from the local mail host to a remote mail host. It is not reliable for
accepting mail from local users or distributing received mail to recipients this is the
responsibility of the local mail system.

SMTP makes use of TCP to establish a connection to the remote mail host, the mail is sent, any
waiting mail is requested and then the connection is disconnected. It can also return a forwarding
address if the intended recipient no longer receives email at that destination. To enable mail to be
delivered across differing systems, a mail gateway is used.

Simple Network Management Protocol

For the transport of network management information, SNMP is used as standardized protocol.
Managed network devices can be cross examined by a computer running to return details about
their status and level of activity. Observing software can also trigger alarms if certain
performance criteria drop below acceptable restrictions. At the transport layer SNMP protocol
uses UDP. The use of UDP results in decreasing network traffic overheads.

4) The Host to Network Layer:

Below the internet layer is great void. The TCP/IP reference model does not really say such
about what happen here, except to point out that the host has connect to the network using some
protocol so it can transmit IP packets over it. This protocol is not specified and varies from host
to host and network to network.

A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized

access while permitting authorized communications. It is a device or set of devices configured to
permit, deny, encrypt, decrypt, or proxy all (in and out) computer traffic between different
security domains based upon a set of rules and other criteria.
Firewalls can be implemented in either hardware or software, or a combination of both. Firewalls
are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks
connected to the Internet, especially intranets. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass
through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the
specified security criteria.
There are several types of firewall techniques:
1. Packet filter: Packet filtering inspects each packet passing through the
network and accepts or rejects it based on user-defined rules. Although
difficult to configure, it is fairly effective and mostly transparent to its users.
In addition, it is susceptible to IP spoofing.
2. Application gateway: Applies security mechanisms to specific applications,
such as FTP and Telnet servers. This is very effective, but can impose a
performance degradation.
 3. Circuit-level gateway: Applies security mechanisms when a TCP or UDP
connection is established. Once the connection has been made, packets can
flow between the hosts without further checking.
4. Proxy server: Intercepts all messages entering and leaving the network. The
proxy server effectively hides the true network addresses.
A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a large computer network that usually spans a city
or a large campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks (LANs)
using a high-capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides up-link
services to wide area networks and the Internet.
The IEEE 802-2001 standard describes a MAN as being: A MAN is optimized for a larger
geographical area than a LAN, ranging from several blocks of buildings to entire cities.
MANs can also depend on communications channels of moderate-to-high data rates. A MAN
might be owned and operated by a single organization, but it usually will be used by many
individuals and organizations. MANs might also be owned and operated as public utilities.
They will often provide means for internetworking of local networks. Metropolitan area
networks can span up to 50km, devices used are modem and wire/cable }}

What Is a MAC Address?

The MAC address is a unique value associated with a network adapter. MAC
addresses are also known as hardware addresses or physical addresses. They
uniquely identify an adapter on a LAN.

MAC addresses are 12-digit hexadecimal numbers (48 bits in length). By convention, MAC
addresses are usually written in one of the following two formats:
MM:MM:MM:SS:SS:SS

MM-MM-MM-SS-SS-SS

The first half of a MAC address contains the ID number of the adapter manufacturer.
These IDs are regulated by an Internet standards body (see sidebar). The second
half of a MAC address represents the serial number assigned to the adapter by the
manufacturer. In the example,

00:A0:C9:14:C8:29

The prefix

00A0C9

indicates the manufacturer is Intel Corporation.

Why MAC Addresses?

Recall that TCP/IP and other mainstream networking architectures generally adopt
the OSI model. In this model, network functionality is subdivided into layers. MAC
addresses function at the data link layer (layer 2 in the OSI model). They allow
computers to uniquely identify themselves on a network at this relatively low level.
MAC vs. IP Addressing
Whereas MAC addressing works at the data link layer, IP addressing functions at the
network layer (layer 3). It's a slight oversimplification, but one can think of IP
addressing as supporting the software implementation and MAC addresses as
supporting the hardware implementation of the network stack. The MAC address
generally remains fixed and follows the network device, but the IP address changes
as the network device moves from one network to another.

IP networks maintain a mapping between the IP address of a device and its MAC address. This
mapping is known as the ARP cache or ARP table. ARP, the Address Resolution Protocol,
supports the logic for obtaining this mapping and keeping the cache up to date.
DHCP also usually relies on MAC addresses to manage the unique assignment of IP addresses to
devices.
OR
Short for Media Access Control address, a hardware address that uniquely
identifies each node of a network. In IEEE 802 networks, the Data Link Control (DLC)
layer of the OSI Reference Model is divided into two sublayers: the Logical Link
Control (LLC) layer and the Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The MAC layer
interfaces directly with the network medium. Consequently, each different type of
network medium requires a different MAC layer.

On networks that do not conform to the IEEE 802 standards but do conform to the OSI
Reference Model, the node address is called the Data Link Control (DLC) address.