Error and Flow Control at the Data Link Layer

Error and Flow Control at the Data Link Layer

Several of the protocol layers in the OSI model play a role in the overall system of flow control and error control for the network. Flow control and error control are defined as follows:

Flow control. Flow control determines the amount of data that can be transmitted in a given time period. Flow control prevents the transmitting device from overwhelming the receiver.
Error control. Error control detects errors in received frames and requests retransmission of frames.

The Data Link layer’s LLC sublayer provides error control and flow control for single links between communicating devices. The Network layer (described in the following section) expands the system of error control and flow control to encompass complex connections that include routers, gateways, and internetworks.