OPEN SYSTEMS INTERCONNECTION

Running head: OPEN SYSTEMS INTERCONNECTION

Open Systems Interconnection.

David “Toby” Meyers

CMGT/244 - Intro to IT Security

Praful Dixit

December 4, 2010
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Open Systems Interconnection

The Open Systems Interconnection Model (OSI) is a theoretical model of connections

between computers over a network connection and it describes the process of sharing

information that users input.

The OSI model has seven layers divided in to two parts. The Hosts portion handles

operations handled by host processes. The Application layer provides application support from

source to destination, which allows semantic conversion to operate seamlessly between two hosts

operating similar programs to view and edit one file at the same time. The Presentation layer

deals with issues of data string representation for formatting of information for either processing

or display. The Session layer is the layer in which authentication, permissions and link recovery

happens as well as allowing different streams, from different sources to the same destination.

The Transport layer delivers messages between networked hosts, manages flow control and error

recovery.

The Media portion deals with the actual transportation and processes of the network. The

Network layer addresses data packages and plots the next available network path to the

destination. The Data Link layer sorts data into frames or packages of data for delivery over the

network; it handles procedures for sending frames between nodes. The Physical layer is the layer

where transmission actually takes place, involves the physical methods of transmission from

network card to network card.

Williams, (2010) had this to say about the OSI model:

The upper layers of the OSI model provide the user with the software, network

and connection management protocols that we use every day, often without

knowing it. The lower layers of the OSI model usually depict the hardware
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functions such as routers, switches and hubs, which are basically routers that do

not have the programming to make routing choices.

The OSI Model helps troubleshoot problems in network communications and is not the

only model for network communications. It is however representative of communications on the

internet.

Packet filters and firewalls reside layers on the network and transport layers. “The

network layer is concerned with routing packets to their destination,” (Kretchmar, 2003). The

transport layer holds specific packet information and read as well in order to have a more

complete filter for data.

Pack filtering routers and firewalls protect a network by checking the validity and content

of packets attempting to gain access to the network. Firewalls and packet filters actively block

malicious or unauthorized access and authenticate purpose of packets.

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Conclusion

The OSI model a theoretical model of connections between computers over a network

connection The OSI model has seven layers divided in to two parts. The Hosts portion handles

operations handled by host processes. The Media portion deals with the actual transportation and

processes of the network. Firewalls and packet filters actively block malicious or unauthorized

access and authenticate purpose of packets. Packet filters and firewalls reside layers on the

network and transport layers.

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References

Kretchmar, (2003). Open Source Network Administration.

Prentice Hall Series in Computer Networking and Distributed Systems.

Retrieved December 4, 2010 from: ebookee.com,

http://www.ebookee.com/Open-Source-Network-Administration_471358.html.

Williams, (2010). Types of Protocols for the OSI Model.

Retrieved December 4, 2010 from: ehow.com,

http://www.ehow.com/list_7449112_types-protocols-osi-model.html.