Network Software: The Protocol Hierarchy

Network Software:

The first computer networks were designed with the hardware as the main concern and the software as an afterthought. This strategy no longer works. Network software is now highly structured.

To reduce their design complexity, most networks are organized as a series or hierarchy of layers or levels.

Protocol hierarchies

The number of layers, the name of each layer, the contents of each layer, and the function of each layer differ from network to network.
Layer 'n' on one machine communicates with layer 'n' on another machine on the network using some rules known as the layer n protocol.
A protocol is an agreement between the communicating parties on how the communication is to proceed.
The entities comprising the corresponding layers on two communicating machines over the network are called peers.
In reality, no data is transferred from layer n on any two machines. Instead, each data and control information is passed to the layer below.
Additional information including protocol control information may be appended by each layer to data as it travels from higher to lower layers in the form of layer headers.
Below layer 1 is the physical medium through which actual communication occurs over communication channels.
Between each pair of adjacent layers, there is an interface. The interface defines which primitive operations and services the lower layer offer to the upper layer.
The set of layers and associated protocols is called network architecture.

layers, protocols, and interfaces.

Advantages of protocol Hierarchy:

1. The main motto of this hierarchy is to reduce the design complexity of the structure. 

2. Also use the design in a simple way to utilize energy efficiently.

How you found this article, is it useful? please feel free to write me a comment so I can improve for the betterment. If you would like more information please visit our other posts or let me know through comments in the right below.
Subscribed to the My Computer Tutors for updates. I will keep updating to you with latest tutorials.