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02 Models and Ethernet Framing

The document discusses Ethernet networking concepts including layered models, encapsulation, frame formats, frame forwarding methods like unicast, broadcast, and multicast, MAC addressing, and carrier sense for collision detection.

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Kai Baguio
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7 views

02 Models and Ethernet Framing

The document discusses Ethernet networking concepts including layered models, encapsulation, frame formats, frame forwarding methods like unicast, broadcast, and multicast, MAC addressing, and carrier sense for collision detection.

Uploaded by

Kai Baguio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Protocol and Reference Models

 Layered Models – OSI

 Layered Models – TCP/IP

 Encapsulation

Ethernet Framing
 Communication between 2 End Stations
Ethernet frames contain instructions that govern how and whether data can be transmitted over the medium between two
or more points. Ethernet frames come in two general formats, the selection of which is highly dependent on the protocols
that have been defined prior to the framing encapsulation.
 Frame Formats
 Ethernet II Frame

 IEEE 802.3 Frame

 Frame Forwarding
Ethernet based networks achieve communication between two end stations on a local area network using Media Access
Control (MAC) addressing that allows end systems within a multi access network to be distinguished. The MAC address
is a physical address that is burned into the network interface card to which the physical medium is connected. This same
MAC address is retrieved and used as the destination MAC address of the intended receiver by the sender, before the
frame is transferred to the physical layer for forwarding over the connected medium.

 Ethernet Mac Address


Each MAC address is a 48 bit value commonly represented in a hexadecimal (base 16) format and comprised of two
parts that attempt to ensure that every MAC address is globally unique. This is achieved by the defining of an
organizationally unique identifier that is vendor specific, based on which it is possible to trace the origin of a product back
to its vendor based on the first 24 bits of the MAC address. The remaining 24 bits of the MAC address is a value that is
incrementally and uniquely assigned to each product (e.g. a Network Interface Card or similar product supporting port
interfaces for which a MAC is required)

 Unicast Frame Forwarding


The transmission of frames within a local network is achieved using one of three forwarding methods, the first of these is
unicast and refers to the transmission from a single source location to a single destination. Each host interface is
represented by a unique MAC address, containing an organizationally unique identifier, for which the 8th bit of the most
significant octet (or first byte) in the MAC address field identifies the type of address. This 8th bit is always set to 0 where
the MAC address is a host MAC address, and signifies that any frame containing this MAC address in the destination
MAC address field is intended for a single destination only. Where hosts exist within a shared collision domain, all
connected hosts will receive the unicast transmission but the frame will be generally ignored by all hosts where the MAC
address in the destination MAC field of the frame does not match the MAC value of the receiving host on a given interface,
leaving only the intended host to accept and process the received data. Unicast transmissions are only forwarded from a
single physical interface to the intended destination, even in cases where multiple interfaces may exist.

 Broadcast Frame Forwarding


Broadcast transmission represents a forwarding method that allows frames to be flooded from a single source received by
all destinations within a local area network. In order to allow traffic to be broadcasted to all hosts within a local area
network, the destination MAC address field of the frame is populated with a value that is defined in hexadecimal as
FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF, and which specifies that all recipients of a frame with this address defined should accept receipt of
this frame and process the frame header and trailer

Broadcasts are used by protocols to facilitate a number of important network processes including discovery and
maintenance of network operation, however also generate excessive traffic that often causes interrupts to end systems
and utilization of bandwidth that tend to reduce the overall performance of the network.

 Multicast Frame Forwarding


A more efficient alternative to broadcast that has begun to replace the use of broadcasts in many newer technologies is
the multicast frame type. Multicast forwarding can be understood as a form of selective broadcast that allows select hosts
to listen for a specific multicast MAC address in addition to the unicast MAC address that is associated with the host, and
process any frames containing the multicast MAC address in the destination MAC field of the frame.
Since there is no relative distinction between unicast MAC addresses and multicast MAC address formats, the multicast
address is differentiated using the 8th bit of the first octet. Where this bit value represents a value of 1, it identifies that the
address is part of the multicast MAC address range, as opposed to unicast MAC addresses where this value is always 0.
In a local area network, the true capability of multicast behavior at the data link layer is limited since forwarding remains
similar to that of a broadcast frame in which interrupts are still prevalent throughout the network. The only clear difference
with broadcast technology is in the selective processing by receiving end stations. As networks expand to support multiple
local area networks, the true capability of multicast technology as an efficient means of transmission becomes more
apparent.

 Carrier Sense
As traffic is prepared to be forwarded over the physical network, it is necessary for hosts in shared collision domains to
determine whether any traffic is currently occupying the transmission medium. Transmission media such as in the case of
10Base2 provides a shared medium over which CSMA/CD must be applied to ensure collisions are handled should they
occur. If the transmission of a frame is detected on the link, the host will delay the forwarding of its own frames until such
time as the line becomes available, following which the host will begin to forward frames from the physical interface
towards the intended destination.

Where two hosts are connected over a medium capable of supporting full duplex transmission as in the case of media
such as 10BaseT, it is considered not possible for transmitted frames to suffer collisions since transmission and receipt of
frames occurs over separate wires and therefore there is no requirement for CSMA/CD to be implemented.

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