Which OSI layer handles session management, including synchronization and recovery of data between applications?

Which OSI layer handles session management, including synchronization and recovery of data between applications?

• A. Application (Layer 7)
• B. Session (Layer 5)
• C. Presentation (Layer 6)
• D. Transport (Layer 4)

Answer: (B)

The main idea is who coordinates an ongoing conversation between two applications. The Session layer is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and terminating that conversation, plus providing dialog control and synchronization points so the two ends can recover and resume data exchange after a disruption. That synchronization and recovery capability is exactly what the question describes. The Transport layer handles end-to-end delivery and reliability of data, but it doesn’t manage the ongoing session state or dialog between applications. The Application layer provides the user-facing services, and the Presentation layer handles data formats and encoding. So the ability to manage the session, including synchronization and recovery between applications, belongs to the Session layer.

The main idea is who coordinates an ongoing conversation between two applications. The Session layer is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and terminating that conversation, plus providing dialog control and synchronization points so the two ends can recover and resume data exchange after a disruption. That synchronization and recovery capability is exactly what the question describes.

The Transport layer handles end-to-end delivery and reliability of data, but it doesn’t manage the ongoing session state or dialog between applications. The Application layer provides the user-facing services, and the Presentation layer handles data formats and encoding. So the ability to manage the session, including synchronization and recovery between applications, belongs to the Session layer.