Internet Layer of the Internet Protocol Suite

The Internet Layer is concerned with establishing the basis for the connection and communication between hosts accross the internet.

In order for the data to get from a machine on one local network to a machine on another local network, each machine must have a way of identifying and interfacing with the other.

The Internet Layer utilises the Internet Protocol to determine how devices will be publicly identified to devices on other networks and how different devices on the same local network will be distinguished from outside of this network. This is achieved through Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

Packets

Data is sent accross the internet between hosts as packets. These packets, when sent and received within the Link Layer on the local network, are enclosed within a Link Layer frame (in its payload section):

Like a frame, an IP packet has a header and a payload. The payload comprises the data between sent between hosts. The header contains a source IP address and a destination IP address and also specifies which version of the Internet Protocol is being used.

// Need to find out more about packets work.