Chapter 5c: Network Layer

IT 6003 – Network and Data Communications

Chapter 5
OSI Network Layer

Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPV4)

Chapter 5
Communication from Host to Host
As we communicate…
Devices use the Transport Layer
to connect sessions…

The network layer enables

devices to reach each other…

Routers find the

best path…

Chapter 5
Communication from Host to Host

Network
Layer

• Addresses packets with an IP Address.

• Routes the packet to the destination.

Chapter 5
Network Layer Protocols

• We will be focusing on IPV4 and IPV6.

Chapter 5
IPV4: Example Network Layer Protocol

• Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPV4) is the most widely used version

of IP.
• Only Layer 3 protocol used on the Internet.
Chapter 5
IPV4: Example Network Layer Protocol

• Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPV6) is developed and slowly being implemented.

(More in coming weeks)
• Will eventually replace IPV4.
• Different characteristics than IPV4. Chapter 5
IPV4: Example Network Layer Protocol

• Characteristics:
• Connectionless
• “Best Effort” Delivery (Unreliable)
• Media Independent
Chapter 5
“Best Effort” Delivery (Unreliable)

• Unreliable means simply that IP does not have the capability to manage
and recover from undelivered or corrupt packets.
• Since protocols at other layers can manage reliability, IP is allowed to
function very efficiently at the Network Layer.
Chapter 5
OSI Network Layer
Networks: Dividing Hosts into Groups

Chapter 5
Dividing Hosts into Groups

As networks grow,
they become too
hard to manage as
on large LAN.

Often, the solution is to divide the

large network into several more
manageable sub-networks.

The question is…..HOW?

Chapter 5
Dividing Hosts into Groups
Should it be
divided
geographically?

Chapter 5
Dividing Hosts into Groups
Should it be
divided based on
purpose?

Chapter 5
Dividing Hosts into Groups
Should it be
divided based on
ownership?

Chapter 5
Why Separate Hosts into Networks?

• Performance
• Security
• Address Management Chapter 5
Performance
After the session….

• Open the PacketTracer file called performance

• Look at the two scenarios!
• Is there any performance increase when using a router to
segment the network?

Chapter 5
Performance
A
• Large numbers of
hosts on a single
network:
• Actual Data
• Overhead
• A big part of the
overhead is
broadcasts.
• In this context, each network is called a broadcast domain.
• Switches forward broadcasts to each device connected to a switch port.
• If we can reduce broadcast overhead, it would improve performance
on the network. Chapter 5
Performance
• Routers block A B
broadcasts unless X X
specifically
configured to
forward them.
• Replacing the
switch in the
diagram with a
router, creates two
separate IP sub-networks and two broadcast domains.
• Broadcasts are now contained within each network. Chapter 5
Security

Chapter 5
Address Management

The role of the gateway….

Chapter 5
Gateway: What is the correct Gateway for PC0 and PC1

Chapter 5
Gateway: What is the correct Gateway for PC0 and PC1

Chapter 5
Gateway: What is the correct Gateway for PC0 and PC3

Chapter 5
Gateway: What is the correct Gateway for PC0 and PC3

Chapter 5
IP Addressing – The Subnet Mask
• There are two methods of expressing a subnet mask.
• The traditional method is to use the decimal value of the 1 bits that
apply to the network.
• [Link] [Link]
• This method is used for Classful Routing .

• The new method is known as IP Prefix or CIDR.

• Simply follow the IP address with a slash (/) and the number of bits that make up
the network portion.
• The remainder of the 32 bits are for the host number.
• [Link] / 24
• This method indicates Classless Routing or Classless Interdomain Routing (CIDR).

Chapter 5
IP Addressing – The Subnet Mask

• The network portion of the IP address assigned to all hosts on a

network segment must be the same.
• All hosts on a segment have the same subnet mask.
Chapter 5
OSI Network Layer
Routing: How Data Packets Are Handled

Chapter 5
Address Types

• Two address types:

• MAC address:
• Physical address of the host
• Burned into the NIC
• Layer 2 address
• Network Address:
• Logical address of the host
• Assigned by network administrator
• Layer 3 address

Chapter 5
Each Host Has Two Addresses

• Physical (MAC):
• The physical address uniquely identifies the host from all other hosts on
all other networks at Layer 2.
• This is the address that is absolutely necessary to get the information
into the host. The IP address by itself won't accomplish that.
Chapter 5
Each Host Has Two Addresses

• Logical (IP):
• The logical address uniquely identifies the host and the network to
which it belongs at Layer 3.
• Routers base their decisions on the NETWORK PORTION of the IP
address when determining the best path for the packet.
Chapter 5
Gateway: The Way Out of the Network

• Additionally, no packet can be forwarded without a route.

• A router makes a forwarding decision for each packet that arrives at the gateway
interface.
• The destination may be one or more hops away.
Chapter 5
Route: A Path to a Network

Destination
Network Next Hop

Metric

• The routing table stores information about directly connected and remote
networks.
• Remote networks are networks not directly connected to the router (manual
configuration or learned dynamically). Chapter 5
Host Routing Table

• Hosts also require a local routing table so that Network layer packets
are directed to the correct destination network.
• Unlike a router, the host routing table usually contains only the host’s
address and the default gateway. Chapter 5
Destination Network - Routing Table Entries

• The hierarchical nature of Layer 3 addressing means that…

• One route entry could refer to a large general network.
• Another entry could refer to a subnet of that same network.
• When forwarding a packet, the router will select the most specific
route.
Chapter 5
Destination Network - Routing Table Entries

• The default route in a routing table performs much the same

function as a default gateway in a PC.
• If a route for a packet cannot be found in the routing table, and a
default route is present, that route will be used to forward the packet.

Chapter 5
Destination Network - Routing Table Entries
Destination
Next Hop
Network
Metric

• If a packet arrives destined for [Link], the router would

check the table in the following order:
• [Link] Since the route doesn’t exist
• [Link] and a default route is
• [Link] configured, the packet would be
• [Link] forwarded to the next hop.
Chapter 5
 Packet Forwarding: Route Found

Data for Host

[Link] / 24

L2 IP TCP DATA L2

Network [Link] IP TCP DATA

Network [Link]
IP Address L2 IP TCP DATA L2
[Link] is on
network [Link]

Chapter 5
 Packet Forwarding: Default Route

Data for Host

[Link] / 24

L2 IP TCP DATA L2

Network [Link] IP TCP DATA

Network [Link]
IP Address L2 IP TCP DATA L2
[Link] is on
network [Link]

Chapter 5
 Packet Forwarding: Route Not Found

?
Data for Host
[Link] / 24

L2 IP TCP DATA L2

Network [Link] IP TCP DATA

Network [Link]
IP Address
[Link] is on
network [Link]

Chapter 5
OSI Network Layer
Routing Processes:
How Routes Are Learned

Chapter 5
Routing Processes: How Routes Are Learned
• Routing requires
that every hop, or
router, along the
path to a packet's
destination have a
route to forward
the packet.
• The routing table contains the
information to make packet forwarding decisions.
• Information is learned in two ways:
• Manual configuration of the information (Static)
• Information received from another router (Dynamic) Chapter 5
Static Routing

• Manually configured.
• Must know network structure.
• Every router between each source and destination must have routes.
• Changes to the topology require static route changes.
Chapter 5
Dynamic Routing

• Routing information is exchanged among the routers using a routing

protocol.
• Route always up to date with little administration but creates overhead.
Chapter 5
Routing Protocols

• Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

• Enhanced Interior Gateway Protocol (EIGRP)
• Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) Chapter 5
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Chapter 5