How to Memorize the 7 Layers of the OSI Model

submitted by Sang on 11.28.2005 in Jokes, Life, Links

The Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model (OSI Model or OSI Reference Model for short) is a layered abstract description for communications and computer network protocol design, developed as part of the Open Systems Interconnect initiative. It is also called the OSI seven layers model.

The OSI model divides the functions of a protocol into a series of layers. Each layer has the property that it only uses the functions of the layer below, and only exports functionality to the layer above. A system that implements protocol behavior consisting of a series of these layers is known as a ‘protocol stack’ or ’stack’. Protocol stacks can be implemented either in hardware or software, or a mixture of both. Typically, only the lower layers are implemented in hardware, with the higher layers being implemented in software.

This OSI model is roughly adhered to in the computing and networking industry. Its main feature is in the interface between layers which dictates the specifications on how one layer interacts with another. This means that a layer written by one manufacturer can operate with a layer from another (assuming that the specification is interpreted correctly.) These specifications are typically known as Request for Comments or “RFC”s in the TCP/IP community. They are ISO standards in the OSI community.

Usually, the implementation of a protocol is layered in a similar way to the protocol design, with the possible exception of a ‘fast path’ where the most common transaction allowed by the system may be implemented as a single component encompassing aspects of several layers.

This logical separation of layers makes reasoning about the behavior of protocol stacks much easier, allowing the design of elaborate but highly reliable protocol stacks. Each layer performs services for the next higher layer, and makes requests of the next lower layer. As previously stated, an implementation of several OSI layers is often referred to as a stack (as in TCP/IP stack).

The OSI reference model is a hierarchical structure of seven layers that defines the requirements for communications between two computers. The model was defined by the International Organization for Standardization. It was conceived to allow interoperability across the various platforms offered by vendors. The model allows all network elements to operate together, regardless of who built them. By the late 1970’s, ISO was recommending the implementation of the OSI model as a networking standard.

Of course, by that time, TCP/IP had been in use for years. TCP/IP was fundamental to ARPANET and the other networks that evolved into the Internet. (For significant differences between TCP/IP and ARPANET, see RFC 871).

Only a subset of the whole OSI model is used today. It is widely believed that much of the specification is too complicated and its full functionality has taken too long to implement, although there are many people that strongly support the OSI model.

On the other hand, many feel that the best thing about the whole ISO networking effort is that it failed before it could do too much damage.

Here are all the layers in pretty picture form:
OSI model