LLC vs HAL

dtx

The Logical Link Control sublayer of the OSI Data Link layer sounds very similar to me to the Windows Hardware Abstraction Layer. I realize OSI is much wider than just Windows. Is HAL the Windows implementation or are they different in some important way?

Thanks!

blackmage439

They're actually two very different things.

The HAL logically provides the interface between software and hardware within a computer. Think of it in terms of the Windows Virtual Machines. Each hardware device is made to believe it has full control over whatever it wants, and software can more seamlessly interface with hardware.

The LLC provides the services at Layer 2 of the OSI model for: a common interface between Network Layer protocols and Data Link Layer transmissions, reliability, and flow control.