Network+ Guide to Networks, Fourth Edition 2-1
Chapter 2 - Networking Standards and the OSI Model
Lecture Notes
Chapter Objectives
Identify organizations that set standards for networking
Describe the purpose of the OSI Model and each of its layers
Explain specific functions belonging to each OSI Model layer
Understand how two network nodes communicate through the OSI Model
Discuss the structure and purpose of data packets and frames
Describe the two types of addressing covered by the OSI Model
Networking professionals often devise a mnemonic way of remembering the seven layers of the
OSI Model. For instance, Programmers Dare Not Throw Salty Pretzels Away.
Network administrators are generally concerned with the bottom four layers of the OSI Model,
while programmers would be more concerned with the top three layers. For this reason, this text
and the Network+ exam concentrate on the bottom four layers of the OSI Model.
Quick Quiz 1
1. Standards define the _____ acceptable performance of a product or service.
2. Addresses used to identify computers on the Internet and other TCP/IP-based networks are known
as _____ addresses.
3. Which OSI Model layer is HTTP a protocol for?
a. Network
b. Presentation
c. Application
d. Data Link
4. Transport layer protocols that do not establish a connection before transmitting and make no effort
to ensure that data is delivered error-free are called _____ protocols.
Quick Quiz 2
1. Which OSI layer establishes, maintains, and terminates user connections?
a. Application
b. Session
c. Data Link
d. Physical
Network+ Guide to Networks, Fourth Edition 2-2
2. Which OSI layer packages data in frames appropriate to network transmission method?
a. Session
b. Physical
c. Data Link
d. Network
3. _____ is a networking technology that relies upon direct links between nodes and a ring topology.
4. Which of the following IEEE 802 standards addresses standards for wireless networking for many
different broadcast frequencies and usage techniques?
a. 802.2
b. 802.8
c. 802.11
d. 802.12
Class Discussion Topics
1. There are a number of standards organizations that specify standards relating to networking. Do
you feel that it is more efficient to have multiple standardization organizations, or if it would be
more efficient to have a unified standards organization for the networking field. Do you feel that it
would be feasible to create such an organization?
2. What benefits do you see in the OSI Model’s division of network communication into seven
distinct layers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
Additional Projects
1. Use the Internet to research one or two organizations not mentioned in this chapter that are
involved in creating standards for the computer industry (preferably standards that relate to the
networking field).
2. Research some common protocols used at the Application layer of the OSI Model.
Additional Resources
OSI Model Practice Quiz: http://gocertify.com/quizzes/osi/
OSI Protocols: http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/osi_prot.htm
TCP/IP Tutorial: http://www.cse.ohio-state.edu/~jain/cis677-00/e_8ip.htm
Network Protocols Tutorial (two parts):
o http://www.networkmagazine.com/article/NMG20000720S0002
o http://www.networkmagazine.com/article/NMG20000726S0007