You will notice as you go through this chapter that the TCP/IP model has many similarities with the OSI model. They both take on a layered approach, with each layer talking to the adjacent layers and their respective layer on the destination device. Like the OSI model, the TCP/IP model is an open or non-proprietary standard, which means any manufacturer can use it. Although most networking courses place a heavy focus on the OSI model, most experts argue that the TCP/IP model is a truer reflection of how networking works:
As shown in the preceding diagram, the TCP/IP model has only four layers compared to the seven layers of the OSI model. These layers are as follows:
- Application layer
- Transport layer
- Internet layer
- Network layer
We will discuss each of these layers in turn in the following sections, but I'm keen...
