Troubleshooting Problems on the Network Layer

The main function of the Network layer is to deliver data packets from the source to the destination network using routers, switches, and bridges. The problems that the Network layer might encounter include:

To counter these problems, the subnet topology should be independent of the Network layer. Similarly, routing algorithms should be used to ensure proper routing of the data packets from the source to the destination network. Examples of routing algorithms include flooding, shortest path routing, and flow based routing.

In the flooding routing algorithm, each data packet is sent to every router. This results in the creation of multiple data packets. In the shortest path routing algorithm, a graph is created to identify the shortest path between the source and destination.

Both the flooding and the shortest path routing algorithm are based on the topology of subnets but do not take into account the load on each router. As a result, these routing algorithms do not provide accurate results. To ensure accurate results with respect to selecting the appropriate router, the anticipated load on the router needs to be considered. This is done by using the flow-based routing algorithm, which identifies the shortest route between the source and destination networks with minimum data transmission load.

Network congestion hampers smooth flow of data and may corrupt the data packets being transmitted. The Network layer applies congestion control algorithms to counter the problems of network congestion. These congestion control algorithms monitor the network to detect the probable areas where network congestion can occur and apply corrective action to reduce the congestion.