Although difficult yet an important concept in computer programming is framing in computer networks.

 From designing your network to working efficiently, it is vital to know the nits and grits of the concept

The concept of Framing in computer networks is very important and one that's difficult to understand without taking the time to learn. If you want to know how to design your network and work effectively on it, then framing is an important part of network design that is integral to this process.

What is framing? 

Framing is a method of sending bits over a network from computer to computer. It occurs when a packet of data is converted into the correct format so other computers on the same local area network can read it.

Framing in computer networks refers to the ability of the router to communicate with other devices on a network. This can be both useful and detrimental depending on the situation at hand.

Data is transmitted as a stream of bits over a point-to-point wire connection called framing between two computers or other devices. These pieces must be organised into comprehensible informational units. Data link layer functionality includes framing.

In computer networking, this is usually achieved by stripping off layer 2 header information before sending the frames to higher layers. This can be done by enabling or disabling protocol options or setting appropriate values at specific points in the process while transmitting packets using Ethernet, Token Ring, and HDLC framing protocols.

There are four primary methods of framing:

The following are four  four primary methods of framing:

• Ethernet – 

The original Ethernet was a 10BASE5 connection that used 5-byte frames controlled by CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection). The first version of this was called the AppleTalk Data Link Layer, and it was developed by Apple Computer. The original Ethernet did not include any form of flow control.

The default method of framing in a computer network defines the size of the first field in each data packet. The default method was used for most early protocols, such as Token Ring and Ethernet, but it is not used in modern networks due to its lack of flexibility.

• FDDI – 

Fiber Distributed Data Interface is an optical fiber architecture that can support up to four rings in a star topology. FDDI uses 30-byte frames which contain 12 bytes for addressing, 3 bytes for data, and 1 byte for control information. There is no concept of collision detection in FDDI, allowing hosts on different rings to send data at once without causing collisions with other hosts on other rings.

The physical method of framing in the data link layer defines the size and position of each field within a packet based on physical characteristics such as length, width, and location on a bus or network device. This method has been widely adopted in modern networks because it provides more flexibility than the default method while maintaining compatibility with older devices.

• Netbyte

Netbyte is a type of variable-sized frame that uses a variable number of bytes to represent the length and position information inside a frame header. This method was developed by IBM to overcome problems associated with using fixed-length fields in their Token Ring network standard. Netbyte frames can be up to 128 bytes long, which is much larger than other types.

• Token Ring – 

Token ring uses time-sliced tokens to allow nodes to send data without collisions or interrupts. Networking software must be capable of handling token ring traffic, and for this reason, most networks do not use token rings today.

Benefits of framing:

The benefit of framing is that it allows the transmission of data over a long distance. It also allows for the transmission of data between different types of networks.

Benefits of framing in computer network

1. Safety: 

The protocol used for the transmission of data from a sending host to a receiving host is called the protocol used for the transmission of data from ascending hosts to arriving hosts.

2. Easy interconnection communication

So that each node on an internetwork can communicate with any other node on an internetwork, it must be possible for each node on an internetwork can communicate with any other node on an internetwork, it must be possible for each node on an internetwork can communicate any other node on an internetwork, it must be possible for each node on an internetwork can communicate with any other.

3. Decrease chances of errors:

It allows for error correction, which means that if there are errors during the transmission, they can be corrected. This is especially important when sending large amounts of data over a long distance. The third benefit is that it allows for encryption, which means that only those who have permission to view the file will be able to read it. This prevents others from reading your files without your permission or knowledge.

4. Easy conversion:

 It's easy to convert between different protocols. A frame can be converted into any other type of frame without affecting the rest of the network.

Frames can carry multiple types of information at once. For example, a packet might contain both IP addresses and TCP/UDP port numbers to identify its source and destination at each endpoint. A frame can also contain multiple fields, such as an address, port number, and protocol type, which allows for richer information about each packet being sent over the wire.

Framing in computer networks and data link layers was covered in this blog. Data is transmitted as a stream of bits over a point-to-point wire connection called framing between two devices.

Upon reaching a large frame size, a packet is split into a smaller frame. These more compact frames make flow control and error control more effective.

The Bottom Line 

There are many possible ways to design and implement framing in data link layer protocol. Some choices made in the frame design will depend on what our goal is, and some will make the difference between the success and failure of our whole project. Therefore, it is important to understand what we want to achieve before we decide on anything.