Summary

In this chapter, you explored each layer of both the OSI reference model and the TCP/IP protocol suite. You discovered the roles and responsibilities of each layer and saw their purpose in ensuring messages are delivered successfully between source and destination hosts over a network. Additionally, you can describe, compare, and even contrast the layers between the OSI reference model and the TCP/IP protocol suite. As an aspiring network professional, you have also acquired the fundamental skills of understanding how the encapsulation and de-encapsulation process works between each layer, and even explored the headers of packets using a protocol analyzer application.

I hope this chapter has been informative for you and is helpful in your journey toward learning about networking and becoming a network professional. In the next chapter, Chapter 2, Network Topologies and Connections, you will discover various network topologies and common network types that are used within many organizations and service providers around the world.