History of OSI Model

Here are essential landmarks from the history of OSI model:

 In the late 1970s, the ISO conducted a program to develop general

standards and methods of networking.
 In 1973, an Experimental Packet Switched System in the UK identified
the requirement for defining the higher-level protocols.
 In the year 1983, OSI model was initially intended to be a detailed
specification of actual interfaces.
 In 1984, the OSI architecture was formally adopted by ISO as an
international standard

7 Layers of the OSI Model

OSI model is a layered server architecture system in which each layer is
defined according to a specific function to perform. All these seven layers
work collaboratively to transmit the data from one layer to another.

 The Upper Layers: It deals with application issues and mostly

implemented only in software. The highest is closest to the end system
user. In this layer, communication from one end-user to another begins
by using the interaction between the application layer. It will process all
the way to end-user.
 The Lower Layers: These layers handle activities related to data
transport. The physical layer and datalink layers also implemented in
software and hardware.

5. Session Layer (Layer 5) :

This layer is responsible for establishment of connection, maintenance
of sessions, authentication and also ensures security.
The functions of the session layer are :
1. Session establishment, maintenance and termination: The
layer allows the two processes to establish, use and terminate
a connection.
2. Synchronization : This layer allows a process to add
checkpoints which are considered as synchronization points
into the data. These synchronization point help to identify the
error so that the data is re-synchronized properly, and ends of
the messages are not cut prematurely and data loss is avoided.
3. Dialog Controller : The session layer allows two systems to
start communication with each other in half-duplex or full-
duplex.
**All the below 3 layers(including Session Layer) are integrated as a
single layer in the TCP/IP model as “Application Layer”.
**Implementation of these 3 layers is done by the network application
itself. These are also known as Upper Layers  or  Software Layers.
SCENARIO:
Let’s consider a scenario where a user wants to send a message
through some Messenger application running in his browser. The
“Messenger” here acts as the application layer which provides the user
with an interface to create the data. This message or so-called Data is
compressed, encrypted (if any secure data) and converted into bits (0’s
and 1’s) so that it can be transmitted.

5. The session layer

This is the layer responsible for opening and closing communication between
the two devices. The time between when the communication is opened and
closed is known as the session. The session layer ensures that the session stays
open long enough to transfer all the data being exchanged, and then promptly
closes the session in order to avoid wasting resources.

The session layer also synchronizes data transfer with checkpoints. For example,
if a 100 megabyte file is being transferred, the session layer could set a
checkpoint every 5 megabytes. In the case of a disconnect or a crash after 52
megabytes have been transferred, the session could be resumed from the last
checkpoint, meaning only 50 more megabytes of data need to be transferred.
Without the checkpoints, the entire transfer would have to begin again from
scratch.

Protocols
This layer, presentation Layer and application layer are combined in TCP/IP model.

 9P Distributed file system protocol developed originally as part of Plan 9

 ADSP AppleTalk Data Stream Protocol
 ASP AppleTalk Session Protocol
 H.245 Call Control Protocol for Multimedia Communications
 iSNS Internet Storage Name Service
 NetBIOS, File Sharing and Name Resolution protocol - the basis of file sharing
with Windows.
 NetBEUI, NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface
 NCP NetWare Core Protocol
 PAP Printer Access Protocol
 RPC Remote Procedure Call
 RTCP RTP Control Protocol
 SDP Sockets Direct Protocol
 SMB Server Message Block
 SMPP Short Message Peer-to-Peer
 SOCKS "SOCKetS"
 ZIP Zone Information Protocol {For AppleTalk}
 This layer provides session management capabilities between hosts. For
example, if some host needs a password verification for access and if
credentials are provided then for that session password verification does not
happen again. This layer can assist in synchronization, dialog control and
critical operation management (e.g., an online bank transaction).
Session Layer
Session Layer controls the dialogues between computers. It helps you to
establish starting and terminating the connections between the local and
remote application.

This layer request for a logical connection which should be established on end
user's requirement. This layer handles all the important log-on or password
validation.

Session layer offers services like dialog discipline, which can be duplex or
half-duplex. It is mostly implemented in application environments that use
remote procedure calls.

Important function of Session Layer:

 It establishes, maintains, and ends a session.
 Session layer enables two systems to enter into a dialog
 It also allows a process to add a checkpoint to steam of data.
Application Layer
Application layer interacts with an application program, which is the highest
level of OSI model. The application layer is the OSI layer, which is closest to
the end-user. It means OSI application layer allows users to interact with other
software application.

Application layer interacts with software applications to implement a

communicating component. The interpretation of data by the application
program is always outside the scope of the OSI model.

Example of the application layer is an application such as file transfer, email,

remote login, etc.

The function of the Application Layers are:

 Application-layer helps you to identify communication partners,
determining resource availability, and synchronizing communication.
 It allows users to log on to a remote host
 This layer provides various e-mail services
 This application offers distributed database sources and access for
global information about various objects and services.

7. Application Layer (Layer 7) :

At the very top of the OSI Reference Model stack of layers, we find
Application layer which is implemented by the network applications.
These applications produce the data, which has to be transferred over
the network. This layer also serves as a window for the application
services to access the network and for displaying the received
information to the user.
Ex: Application – Browsers, Skype Messenger etc.
**Application Layer is also called as Desktop Layer.

The functions of the Application layer are :

1. Network Virtual Terminal
2. FTAM-File transfer access and management
3. Mail Services
4. Directory Services
OSI model acts as a reference model and is not implemented in the
Internet because of its late invention. Current model being used is the
TCP/IP model.

7. The application layer

This is the only layer that directly interacts with data from the user. Software
applications like web browsers and email clients rely on the application layer to
initiate communications. But it should be made clear that client software
applications are not part of the application layer; rather the application layer is
responsible for the protocols and data manipulation that the software relies on
to present meaningful data to the user. Application layer protocols
include HTTP as well as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is one of the
protocols that enables email communications).

Protocols:

 SOAP, Simple Object Access Protocol

 Simple Service Discovery Protocol, A discovery protocol employed by UPnP
 TCAP, Transaction Capabilities Application Part
 Universal Plug and Play
 DHCP
 DNS Domain Name System
 HTTP
 HTTPS
 NFS
 POP3
  SMTP
 SNMP
 FTP
 NTP
 IRC
 Telnet
 SSH
 TFTP
 IMAP
 Gemini

OSI MODEL AND TCP/IP

ere, are some important differences between the OSI & TCP/IP model:

OSI Model TCP/IP model

OSI model provides a clear distinction TCP/IP doesn't offer any clear
between interfaces, services, and distinguishing points between services,
protocols. interfaces, and protocols.

OSI uses the network layer to define TCP/IP uses only the Internet layer.
routing standards and protocols.

OSI model use two separate layers TCP/IP uses only one layer (link).
physical and data link to define the
functionality of the bottom layers

OSI model, the transport layer is only A layer of the TCP/IP model is both
connection-oriented. connection-oriented and connectionless.
 In OSI model, data link layer and In TCP data link layer and physical layer
physical are separate layers. are combined as a single host-to-network
layer.

The minimum size of the OSI header is 5 Minimum header size is 20 bytes.
bytes.

Advantages of the OSI Model

Here, are major benefits/pros of using the OSI model :

 It helps you to standardize router, switch, motherboard, and other

hardware
 Reduces complexity and standardizes interfaces
 Facilitates modular engineering
 Helps you to ensure interoperable technology
 Helps you to accelerate the evolution
 Protocols can be replaced by new protocols when technology changes.
 Provide support for connection-oriented services as well as
connectionless service.
 It is a standard model in computer networking.
 Supports connectionless and connection-oriented services.
 Offers flexibility to adapt to various types of protocols

Disadvantages of the OSI Model

Here are some cons/ drawbacks of using OSI Model:

 Fitting of protocols is a tedious task.

 You can only use it as a reference model.
 Doesn't define any specific protocol.
 In the OSI network layer model, some services are duplicated in many
layers such as the transport and data link layers
 Layers can't work in parallel as each layer need to wait to obtain data
from the previous layer.

Summary
 The OSI Model is a logical and conceptual model that defines network
communication which is used by systems open to interconnection and
communication with other systems
 In OSI model, layer should only be created where the definite levels of
abstraction are needed.
 OSI layer helps you to understand communication over a network
 In 1984, the OSI architecture was formally adopted by ISO as an
international standard