The Data Link Layer
The Data Link Layer is crucial for ensuring data integrity over a single network link, with a comprehensive discussion on error detection and recovery mechanisms, often focused on various protocols including MAC protocols and Ethernet operations. The module elaborates on the intricacies of switched Local Area Networks (LANs) and how data is managed through MAC addressing and Ethernet framing, showcasing how modern networking has evolved from traditional hubs to intelligent switches.
Sections
Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.
What we have learnt
- Data Link Layer provides mechanisms for error detection and recovery.
- Various error detection techniques, such as parity checks, checksums, and CRCs, are essential for maintaining data integrity.
- Medium Access Control protocols manage how data transmission is shared among multiple stations, preventing collisions and ensuring efficiency in network performance.
Key Concepts
- -- Error Detection
- The process used to determine whether a transmitted message has been received accurately, often using redundancy such as parity bits or CRC.
- -- MAC Address
- A unique hardware identifier assigned to a Network Interface Card, crucial for local delivery of frames within Ethernet networks.
- -- Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
- A powerful error-detecting code that uses polynomial division to detect changes to raw data, proving effective for a wide range of error types.
- -- Switched Ethernet
- Modern LANs that use switches to manage traffic, providing dedicated communication channels and reducing the chances of collisions.
- -- Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ)
- A protocol for reliable data transfer that uses acknowledgment and retransmission of lost or corrupted frames.
Additional Learning Materials
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.