Online Computer Terms Dictionary - D

Data Link Connection Identifier

<networking> (DLCI) A channel number which is attached to data frames to tell a Frame Relay network how to route the data. In Frame Relay, multiple logical channels are multiplexed over a single physical channel. The DLCI says which of these logical channels a particular data frame belongs to.

http://www.etinc.com/frmain.htm#whatsadlci.

(2000-02-13)

data link layer

<networking> Layer two, the second lowest layer in the OSI seven layer model. The data link layer splits data into frames (see fragmentation) for sending on the physical layer and receives acknowledgement frames. It performs error checking and re-transmits frames not received correctly. It provides an error-free virtual channel to the network layer. The data link layer is split into an upper sublayer, Logical Link Control (LLC), and a lower sublayer, Media Access Control (MAC).

Example protocols at this layer are ABP, Go Back N, SRP.

(1995-02-14)

data link level

data link layer

Data Link Provider Interface

<networking> (DLPI) The interface that a network driver presents to the (higher level) logical link layer for driving the network at the datagram level in a Unix STREAMS environment and possibly elsewhere.

DLPI corresponds to ISO 8802/2 (LLC) which covers both connection-oriented and connectionless protocols.

[Is this correct? Better explanation?]

(1996-01-29)