Which OSI Model Layer Does a Router Operate At?

At which of the following OSI model layers would a router operate?

A.

Physical

B.

Network

C.

Transport

D.

Data link.

B.

A router is a network device that operates at the network layer of the OSI model. The network layer is layer 3, and it is responsible for packet forwarding between different networks. Routers make forwarding decisions based on the destination IP address of the packet, and they use routing tables to determine the best path for the packet to take.

The other layers of the OSI model are as follows:

• Physical Layer (layer 1): This layer is responsible for transmitting raw data over a physical medium, such as copper wires, fiber optic cables, or wireless signals.

• Data Link Layer (layer 2): This layer is responsible for establishing reliable communication between adjacent nodes on a network. It provides error detection and correction, as well as flow control and access to the physical medium.

• Transport Layer (layer 4): This layer is responsible for end-to-end communication between applications on different hosts. It provides reliable, ordered delivery of data and handles congestion control and flow control.

In summary, routers operate at the network layer (layer 3) of the OSI model.