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OSIOverview Considering the overwhelming variety of communications protocols used by even a simple network, it is not surprising that the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model of network communications was developed. By specifying seven layers of communication, the OSI model attempts to describe the generic processes that data must undergo for complete network communication. However, with the variety of network architectures and uses, the OSI model is more of a general learning tool than a set of observed standards. Many aspects of the OSI model are included in different network types, but they are often either condensed into one layer or split between multiple layers. General Information Do you need some background information about OSI layers? Would you like to learn more about network protocols? Are you looking for additional links about OSI? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you should visit either Webopedia.com's OSI definition page or Wikipedia.com's Open Systems Interconnection encyclopedia article. An excellent source for learning about OSI layers and network protocols is the ISO homepage. On this page, you’ll be able to access information about the organization and the standards that they post. OSI Learning Resources To complicate OSI matters, different schools of thought interpret the ISO “standard” in different ways. To illustrate this, the following list contains links to OSI learning guides and articles. Many similar themes are discussed at each of these sites, but the different interpretations of OSI standards are evident. Visit any of the following sites to compare and contrast different online OSI resources.
Additional Links The Web page www.lex-con.com/osimodel.htm provides information about different layers, and their relationship with protocol stacks of different network types, in a table format. At http://gocertify.com/quizzes/osi you can test your newfound knowledge of the OSI model by taking a quiz.
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