OSI Model Essay -- Computers Networking Technology Essays

OSI Model Introduction Successful communication of any type contains four key characteristics. These characteristics follow: 1. A sender: This is the person who is sending information. 2. A receiver: This is the person the sender is sending the information to. 3. A common language: If the sender and receiver are going to understand each other, they will need a common language and protocol, or specific method of communicating. 4. A common medium: The sender and receiver could choose whether to communicate in person, by telephone, writing or any other method that both can agree on. The OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) model attempts to define and standardize these key communication characteristics for computer networks. It does so by breaking communication between computers into seven specific layers. Each layer performs specific tasks relative to achieving communication. This paper will address the layers by explaining what they do individually and how they work together as a whole. Each OSI layer labels the piece of data that it processes before passing it on to the next level. The next layer could be either above the current layer of below the current layer depending on whether the computer is receiving or sending data. For purposes of this paper, the layers will be described in top down fashion beginning with application and ending with the physical layer. This simulates the theoretical method that a computer sends data. When receiving data, the layers are reversed and the data flows from the physical up to the application layer. .. ...rk which companies use to develop network protocols. Each layer of the model was discussed separately. These layers are: Application Presentation Session Transport Network Data Link Physical Protocol stacks allow computers to communicate with each other over the network even when they have different applications and operating systems. Sources Cited 1. http://frontpage.idsonline.com/sallard/MCSE/Net%20Ess/OSI%20Model.html 2. http://eratosthenes.informatik.uni-mannheim.de/informatik/pi4/lectures/RN/CN-Title/form/basosie.htm 3. http://www.matcmp.sunynassau.edu/~kaplans/classes/osimodel.htm 4. http://www.atlantic-tech.com/osimodel.htm