The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is an architectural framework developed to help standardize communication protocols between different computers, networks, and systems. It is a seven-layer model that was created to ensure communication works reliably and efficiently across all types of networks. The model and its components are widely used today in almost every networked system we use, from email to the web and from social media to VoIP. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how the OSI model was discovered and why it is so important.
In the late 1970s, as computer technology became more complex, there was a need for more robust standards that would allow different computers to communicate and share information with one another. At the same time, different vendors were developing their own proprietary protocols, making it more difficult to interconnect multiple computers, networks, and systems.
It was then that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed the OSI model, which was designed to create a consistent and reliable way of communicating between different computers and networks. The goal was to create a universal networking language that allowed computers and networks of all varieties to communicate and share data.
The OSI model is made up of seven main layers: the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, the transport layer, the session layer, the presentation layer, and the application layer. Each layer is responsible for performing unique functions and works together with the other layers to enable communication. The layers of the model interact with one another through predefined interfaces, or points of exchange, which define how data is transmitted between the layers.
The main benefit of the OSI model is that it helps standardize data transmissions and communications between different computers, networks, and systems. By establishing a common language, it allows different vendors and technologies to easily interoperate. The OSI model also encourages vendors and developers to work together more effectively and creates a smoother development environment.
The OSI model was officially released in 1984 and has since become the de facto industry standard for networking and communications. Today, it is widely used to enable communication across the internet and is used in almost every networking protocol, including wireless networks and the web.
The OSI model has revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with computers and networks, allowing us to access and share information in a much more efficient manner. Its success is due in large part to its simplicity and scalability, which have enabled it to remain relevant and widely used even as technology continues to evolve.
