Logical Link Control

What Does Logical Link Control Mean?

Logical Link Control (LLC) is one of two Data Link Layer (DLL) network protocol sublayers within the Open System Interconnection (OSI) data communication model. LLC is located in the upper DLL area of OSI Layer 2 above the Physical Layer (PHY) of OSI Layer 1.

Advertisements

LLC is standardized as IEEE 802.2 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) .

Techopedia Explains Logical Link Control

The LLC multiplexing interface includes the following network protocol features:

  • Multipoint network operation
  • Unified network media exchange
  • Flow control
  • Line protocol identification, like Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC)
  • Frame sequence number assignment
  • Acknowledgement tracking

Today, LLC is only used for its multiplexing feature. Modern Transport Layer protocols, like TCP or other application layer protocols, are used for source and destination network flow management.

A non-IEEE 802 protocol may be distributed between the LLC and Media Access Control (MAC) layers, like Cisco’s High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC).

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Data Management Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…