Application Layer

Chapter 3
CCNA Exploration 1

Special thanks to instructors at St. Clair

College in Windsor, Ontario for their slides.

Applications
The Interface Between Human and Data

Networks

Application Layer

Application Layer OSI and

TCP/IP Models
Two important concepts:
Application Layer:

The first step for getting data on to the

network.
Application Software:
The programs used to communicate over the
network.

For example:
When displaying a web page:

The Application Layer uses the HTTP Protocol.

The Application Software is your browser.

Application Layer Software

Within the

Application
layer, there are two
forms
of software
programs or
processes that
provide access to
the network:
Applications
Services

User Applications, Services

& Protocols
Applications provide people a way to

create messages
Application layer services establish an
interface to the network
Protocols provide the rules and formats
that govern how data is treated.

Application Layer Software

Application layer protocols are used by both the

source and destination devices during a

communication session.
The application layer protocols implemented on the
source and destination host must match.

Application Layer Protocols

Establish consistent rules for data exchange.

Specify data structure in the message and types of

messages.
Define message dialogues (appropriate responses).

Application Layer Software

IP
TCP
HTTP
Header Header Header

Data

Applications and services can use multiple protocols.

Encapsulate the protocol.
Be encapsulated by a protocol.
Invoke other protocols.

For example, using a web browser (HTTP) may invoke:

DNS, ARP, ICMP

May use TCP, UDP, Ethernet, PPP (Much More Later)
Definitely uses IP

Application Layer
Making Provisions for
Applications and Services

Introduction
When accessing

information on a device,
the data may not be
physically stored on
that device.
If that is the case, a
request must be made
to the device where the
data resides.
Two methods:
Client/Server
Peer-to-Peer (P2P)

Servers
Servers are

repositories of
information.
Processes on
the server
control the
delivery of
information
to the client.
The information is usually shared with multiple clients.
Web Server
Email Server

Servers
Some servers

may require
user
authentication
to access the
data or the
network.

FTP Server:

May require
an account and password before allowing a
transfer.

Client/Server Model
Clients hardware,

May also require

control
Files information.
downloaded
User to
Authentication
the client.
or identify a file to be
transferred.

software combination
The client begins the
exchange by making
a request for data.

The server responds

with one or more
streams of data.

Resources are stored

on the server.

Files uploaded to
the server

Client/Server Model

The biggest advantage of the client/server model

is the centralization of resources.
User Names and Passwords, Files, Databases.

Peer-to-Peer Model: P2P

Networking

Two or more computers are connected via a network

and can share resources (such as printers and files)

without having a dedicated server.
End devices (peers) can function as either a server
or client depending upon the required service.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
Networking
One big disadvantage of P2P networking is

that it decentralizes the services on a

multiuser network.
Maintaining security and access policies on
a P2P network is definitely a challenge.
All Policies and User Names and
Passwords must be maintained on each
peer device.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
Applications

A peer-to-peer application, unlike a peer-

to-peer network, allows a device to act as

both a client and a server within the same
communication.

Application Layer
Application Layer Protocols
and Services Examples

Applications

Applications
APPLICATIONS

Usually, a single server will function as a server for multiple

application protocols.

Some Specific Used

Protocols

Domain Name System (DNS) - TCP/UDP Port 53

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) - TCP Port 80
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) - TCP Port 25
Post Office Protocol (POP) - UDP Port 110
Telnet - TCP Port 23
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - UDP Port 67
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - TCP Ports 20 and 21

22

DNS
Domain Name System
Helping Protocol

Domain Name System

(DNS)

DNS allows us to use simple, recognizable names instead of

an IP Address.

Domain Name System

(DNS)
?

1
1.
.
8
16
.
2
19

80

Data:
1025 Request for
web page

Trailer

Web Browser application

Port Number: 1025

www.cisco.com : ? IP address
Web Server
application Port
Number: 80

IP address :
200.20.20.1

IP address :
192.168.1.1

Domain Name System

(DNS)
We
ww b Se
w. rve
cis
r
co :
.co
m
Reply:
www.cisco.com =
198.133.219.25

DNS Address Book:

www.cisco.com = 198.133.219.25
www.yahoo.com = 200.133.2.56

== ?? Unique
IP address
Numbered
Address
Request
for IP address
Packet ready
to be send
to www.cisco.com

Data:
Request for
web page

Trailer

DNS-Domain Name System

Domain Name System

(DNS)
DNS is an automated client/server service.
Internet programs requiring domain name look up

send a resolution request to the DNS resolver

(Client side of DNS) in the local operating system
The resolver in turn handles the communications
required.
Web Browser
Mail Client

Operating System

DNS
Resolver

Domain Name System

(DNS)

DNS and the Browser:

1. First, a domain name or URL is entered in the address
field of the browser. The browser passes the name to
the resolver.

Domain Name System

(DNS)

www.cisco.com

DNS Resolver:
Port No. 1026

DNS Sever:
Port No. 53
IP Address :
10.10.1.3

???

IP Address :
10.10.1.2

MAC Address

.2
.1
0.
1
10

M
Se AC
ve o
r fD
N
M
S
A
C
of
Cl
ie
nt
10
.1
0.
1.
3

DNS and the Browser:

2. The resolver sends the DNS request to the DNS Server.

IP Address

53

1026

Data:
Request for
Domain
Name Lookup

Port Numbers

Trailer

Domain Name System

(DNS)

www.cisco.com

3
www.cisco.com = 198.133.219.25
DNS and the Browser:
2. The resolver sends the DNS request to the DNS Server.
3. The server then searches its records and resolves the
name with to a corresponding IP Address.

Domain Name System

(DNS)

www.cisco.com

3
www.cisco.com = 198.133.219.25

4
198.133.219.25

DNS and the Browser:

4. The DNS server then sends the IP Address back to the
client that made the request. The IP Address will be
used in the encapsulation process as the destination
address for packets going to www.cisco.com.

Domain Name System

(DNS)

How does the resolver know where to send the requests?

From the IP configuration on the device.
IP Address
192.168.25.25
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
Default Gateway
192.168.25.1
DNS Server
208.67.222.222

DNS: Client Settings

DNS: Client Settings

Domain Name System

(DNS)
ARP Reply

ARP Request
DNS Request
ready
to be send.

How does the resolver know the MAC Address of the DNS
Server?
By the help of ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)
Resolves Known IP address = Unknown MAC Address.
Where to send the ARP request?
To All Devices in the Network - BROADCAST

DNS Name Servers

Centralize DNS?

NO
Single point of failure
Traffic volume
REASONS ?
Distance centralized database
Maintenance
Doesnt scale!
Solution: Distributed Database

DNS Heirarchy

Also Known as
Authoritative
DNS Servers
Local DNS
Servers

DNS: Root name servers

13 root name servers worldwide
Contacted by local name server that can not

resolve name.

a NSI Herndon, VA
c PSInet Herndon, VA
d U Maryland College Park, MD
g DISA Vienna, VA
h ARL Aberdeen, MD
j NSI (TBD) Herndon, VA

e NASA Mt View, CA
f Internet Software C. Palo Alto, CA

b USC-ISI Marina del Rey, CA

l ICANN Marina del Rey, CA

k RIPE London
i NORDUnet Stockholm
m WIDE Tokyo

Domain Name System

(DNS)

For access to the Internet, DNS servers are arranged in a

hierarchy.
References to the hierarchy are included when a local DNS
server is installed.

Domain Name System

(DNS)

The servers at the Root know how to reach the Top-level

domain servers.
The top-level servers know how to reach the secondary level
servers and so on..

root name server

DNS Query Example

Two Types of DNS Queries :
Recursive

Iterative

local name server

dns.bracu.ac.bd

requesting host

Top Level Domain

.edu
5
4
Local DNS Server
dns.cs.umass.edu

PC17.bracu.ac.bd
gaia.cs.umass.edu

Recursive Query

root name server

DNS: Iterated Queries

Recursive query:

puts burden of

name resolution on
contacted name
server
heavy load?

Iterated query:
contacted server

replies with name of

server to contact
I dont know this
name, but ask this
server

iterated query
3
4
7

local name server

dns.eurecom.fr

requesting host

Top Level Domain

.edu

Local DNS Server

dns.cs.umass.edu

surf.eurecom.fr
gaia.cs.umass.edu

Iterative Query

Domain Name System

www.site.com = 202.2.2.2 (DNS)
www.site.com = 202.2.2.2

Store in cache, Send to client

? www.site.com

? www.site.com
www.site.com = 202.2.2.2 .Store in cache

DNS Cache : Storing DNS Information in

Local memory

nslookup
Windows operating systems provide

the nslookup utility.

Use to query a domain name and get
the IP Address.
Can also be used to troubleshoot
DNS resolution issues.

nslookup

Domain Name System

(DNS)
Utility:
ipconfig
/displaydns
Displays the
contents of the PC
cache.
ipconfig /flushdns
Clears the
contents of the PC
cache.

HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
And WWW Services

HTTP Components
Client
Web browser

Server
Web Server

Protocol
HTTP, HTTPS

Content
Web Documents

WWW Service and HTTP

Protocol
Browser

Web browsers are the client applications used to

interpret the HTTP application protocol received from
a web server.

Web Browser

WWW Service and HTTP

Web Server:
Stores the web objects (HTML, Pictures, Video, Files).
Each accessible by a URL.
Implements the server side of HTTP.
Examples:
Apache, Microsoft Internet Information Server (MIIS)

URL
The browser interprets the 3 parts of the

URL:
1. http (the protocol or scheme)
2. www.cisco.com(the server name)
3. web-server.htm (the specific file name
requested).

HTTP How does it work?

DNS Reply

Get Request for

Web page

Request
for IP address

Web Browser
Displays

HTTP is a request/response type of protocol.

HTTP 1.0: RFC 1945
HTTP 1.1: RFC 2068

HTTP Request Message

Method/Message types
HTTP/1.0
GET
POST
HEAD
asks server to leave

requested object out of

response
debugging

HTTP/1.1
GET, POST, HEAD
PUT
uploads file in entity

body to path specified

in URL field

DELETE
deletes file specified in

the URL field

WWW Service and HTTP

The server responds with either:

The requested object.
An error message, if necessary.
Or other status messages.

HTTP Response Message

status line
(protocol
status code
status phrase)
header
lines

data, e.g.,
requested
HTML file

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Connection close
Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 12:00:15 GMT
Server: Apache/1.3.0 (Unix)
Last-Modified: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 ...
Content-Length: 6821
Content-Type: text/html
data data data data data ...

HTTP response status codes

A few sample codes:
200 OK
request succeeded, requested object later in this

message

301 Moved Permanently

requested object moved, new location specified later

in this message (Location:)

400 Bad Request

request message not understood by server

404 Not Found

requested document not found on this server

505 HTTP Version Not Supported

HTTP Request

HTTP Response

WWW Service and HTTP

For secure communications, Secure HTTP (HTTPS) is

used:
Allows servers and clients to exchange information
securely over the Internet.