Principles Digital Communication System & Computer Networks (Charles River Media Computer Engineering)

16.4 NETWORK LAYER

The important function of the network layer is to relieve the higher layers of the need to know anything about the underlying transmission and switching technologies. Network layer protocol provides for transfer of information between the end systems. The functions of the network layer are:

• Switching and routing of packets

• Management of multiple datalinks

• Negotiating with the network for priority and destination address

The functions of the network layer are switching and routing of packets. Additional functionality such as management of multiple links and assigning priority to packets is also done at this layer.