Layer 2

Physical Addressing

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Which layer of the OSI reference model typically deals with the physical addressing of interface cards?

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A. B. C. D.

B.

The layer of the OSI reference model that typically deals with the physical addressing of interface cards is the data-link layer. This layer is responsible for the transfer of data between devices over a physical link or network. It defines the protocols and processes that enable devices to communicate with each other and provides a reliable method of transmitting data packets between devices.

At the data-link layer, devices use hardware addresses, or MAC addresses, to identify themselves on the network. These addresses are assigned by the manufacturer of the network interface card (NIC) and are unique to each device. The data-link layer encapsulates the data received from the higher layer protocols and adds a header and trailer to create a data frame. The header contains the source and destination MAC addresses, while the trailer contains error checking information.

The physical layer, on the other hand, is responsible for the physical transmission of data over a network. It defines the electrical and physical specifications for the devices used to transmit data, such as the cables, connectors, and signaling used to transfer data between devices. The physical layer does not deal with addressing or protocol issues.

The network layer is responsible for routing packets between devices on different networks, while the host layer, or application layer, deals with the protocols and processes used by applications to communicate with each other over a network.

In summary, the data-link layer is the layer of the OSI reference model that typically deals with the physical addressing of interface cards, using MAC addresses to identify devices on the network.