Network models: the OSI and TCP/IP models compared

This week’s topics

Network models: the OSI and TCP/IP models compared

1. Starting point: what a computer network is
2. The OSI and TCP/IP networking models and their layers and compare them

What you will be able to do

• 1.1 Describe the OSI and TCP/IP networking models and their layers and compare them.

Activity

Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: describe the OSI and TCP/IP networking models and their layers and compare them.

Study materials

Videos

• The TCP/IP model · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
• Network basics · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
• An introduction to computer networks · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 3 (lower secondary level) · for registered students

Further resources

• An Introduction to Computer Networks, 1.1–1.8: Overview of Networks · PDF · Dordal, An Introduction to Computer Networks, release 2.0.11, 1.1–1.8: layers, bandwidth, packets and topology (a step up), pp. 13–21 · for registered students
• Kurose & Ross Wireshark lab: Getting Started · PDF · Kurose & Ross Wireshark lab (v9.0), hands-on lab on protocol layers and capturing packets to check connectivity; 11 pp. · for registered students
• The design philosophy of the DARPA Internet protocols · Open-access article · Clark (1988), ACM SIGCOMM '88. The design goals behind TCP/IP, explained by a chief Internet architect. · for registered students
• A brief history of the Internet · Open-access article · Leiner et al. (2009), ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review. The Internet's history told by its designers, from ARPANET to LANs and today's network. · for registered students