information field (I)

The term information field is used in various protocols. InLAN protocols like Ethernet or Token Ring, as well as in signaling, routing, network or transport protocols.

Information fields contain information about various protocols, about layers and their functions, routing information, versions and procedures.

For example, the Point to Point Protocol( PPP) information field, which is 2 bytes long, contains the header and data for the network protocol defined in the protocol field. The information field in the D- channel protocol contains network layerinformation. It has a length of n x 8 bits; the maximum length is 260 octets. Or the information field in the Ethernet frame and in the Token Ring frame contain information that can be addressed to the MAClayer, the LLC layer or to the network management.