Networking Bible

Chapter 2. The Network Stack

IN THIS CHAPTER

• How standards are developed

• Introduction to standards organizations

• The Open Systems Interconnection Reference model

• How to use the network stack to understand products and services

• Each layer of the OSI model and their application

• Interfaces, services, and protocols

• Examples of where the OSI isn't an accurate description

• The TCP/IP Reference model

• Comparing the OSI and the TCP/IP Reference models

The network stack refers to an architectural model that is used to describe network transactions starting at one computer system and ending at another system. Models were developed to standardize devices and services, and to allow industry standards to evolve that allowed communications from one level of the network to another.

This chapter discusses the two most important network models in use today: the ISO's Open Systems Interconnection model and the Internet or TCP/IP model. Each model subdivides the different types of network devices, services, and software into a set of architectural layers, the definitions and relationships of which provide a means to categorize and discuss modern network technology. The vocabulary described in this chapter provides a means of framing the discussions in the remaining chapters in this book.

Standard Development Organizations

As networking standards developed in the 1970s and 1980s, the computer industry was faced with the common problem of making vendors' products interoperate with each other. Operating systems vendors ...