Safari Books Online is a digital library providing on-demand subscription access to thousands of learning resources.
- Create BookmarkCreate Bookmark
- Create Note or TagCreate Note or Tag
- PrintPrint
Chapter 3: Understanding the OSI Model > Understanding the OSI Model
The seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a general framework, or set of guidelines, for network communication. It defines how data is handled at several different layers. It also identifies the framework of TCP/IP protocols and hardware used on networks. There is no single standard or compliance test for the OSI Model itself. Instead, many standards have been created based on the different elements of the model.
The OSI Model is a framework for network communication. The ISO created it, and it includes seven layers.
Figure 3-1 shows the seven layers of the OSI Model. One of the primary goals of the OSI Model is operating system independence. In other words, the OSI Model allows computers running any operating system to communicate with other computers.
