Some of the prominently used networks in today’s world are −InternetIEEE 802.11 for Wireless LANRFID and Sensor NetworksInternetInternet is a global collection of vast number of dissimilar networks that are interconnected together. Internet uses the TCP/IP protocol and provides varied services. The networks forming the Internet may be private, public, academic, commercial or government, but Internet as a whole is not controlled by any one organization. Internet uses a wide range of networking technologies which are being continually upgraded.The traditional services provided by the Internet were electronic mail, file sharing, and hyperlinked documents. The passage of time has been witnessing ... Read More

The advantages of TCP/IP protocol suite areIt is an industry–standard model that can be effectively deployed in practical networking problems.It is interoperable, i.e., it allows cross-platform communications among heterogeneous networks.It is an open protocol suite. It is not owned by any particular institute and so can be used by any individual or organization.It is a scalable, client-server architecture. This allows networks to be added without disrupting the current services.It assigns an IP address to each computer on the network, thus making each device to be identifiable over the network. It assigns each site a domain name. It provides name and ... Read More

The advantages of the OSI model areIt is a generic model and acts as a guidance tool to develop any network model.It is a layered model. Changes are one layer do not affect other layers, provided that the interfaces between the layers do not change drastically.It distinctly separates services, interfaces, and protocols. Hence, it is flexible in nature. Protocols in each layer can be replaced very conveniently depending upon the nature of the network.It supports both connection-oriented services and connectionless services.The disadvantages of the OSI model areIt is purely a theoretical model that does not consider the availability of appropriate ... Read More

Similarities between OSI and TCP / IP Reference ModelsBoth the reference models are based upon layered architecture.The layers in the models are compared with each other. The physical layer and the data link layer of the OSI model correspond to the link layer of the TCP/IP model. The network layers and the transport layers are the same in both the models. The session layer, the presentation layer and the application layer of the OSI model together form the application layer of the TCP/IP model.In both the models, protocols are defined in a layer-wise manner.In both models, data is divided into ... Read More

The application layer is the highest abstraction layer of the TCP/IP model that provides the interfaces and protocols needed by the users. It combines the functionalities of the session layer, the presentation layer and the application layer of the OSI model.The functions of the application layer are −It facilitates the user to use the services of the network.It is used to develop network-based applications.It provides user services like user login, naming network devices, formatting messages,  and e-mails, transfer of files etc.It is also concerned with error handling and recovery of the message as a whole.This layer uses a number of protocols, ... Read More

The transport layer is responsible for error-free, end-to-end delivery of data from the source host to the destination host. It corresponds to the transport layer of the OSI model.The functions of the transport layer are −It facilitates the communicating hosts to carry on a conversation.It provides an interface for the users to the underlying network.It can provide for a reliable connection. It can also carry out error checking, flow control, and verification.The protocols used in this layer are −Transmission Control Protocol, TCP − It is a reliable connection-oriented protocol that transmits data from the source to the destination machine without ... Read More

The Internet layer is responsible for logical transmission of data packets over the internet. It can be compared to the network layer of the OSI model.The main functions of the internet layer are −It transmits data packets to the link layer.It routes each of the data packets independently from the source to the destination, using the optimal route.It reassembles the out-of-order packets when they reach the destination.It handles the error in transmission of data packets and fragmentation of data packets.The protocols used in this layer are −Internet Protocol, IP − It is a connectionless and unreliable protocol that provides a ... Read More

The host-to-network layer is the lowest layer of the TCP/IP model and is concerned with the physical transmission of data. It is also called a network interface layer or link layer. It can be considered as the combination of physical layer and data link layer of the OSI model.The functions of this layer are −It defines how bits are to be encoded into optical or electrical pulses.It accepts IP packets from the network layer and encapsulates them into frames. It synchronizes the transmission of the frames as well as the bits making up the frames, between the sender and the ... Read More

TCP/IP Reference Model is a four-layered suite of communication protocols. It was developed by the DoD (Department of Defence) in the 1960s. It is named after the two main protocols that are used in the model, namely, TCP and IP. TCP stands for "Transmission Control Protocol" and IP stands for "Internet Protocol".The four layers in the TCP/IP protocol suite are −Host-to- Network Layer −It is the lowest layer that is concerned with the physical transmission of data. TCP/IP does not specifically define any protocol here but supports all the standard protocols.Internet Layer −It defines the protocols for logical transmission of ... Read More

The application layer (Layer 7) is the topmost layer of the OSI model. It specifies the interfaces and supports services to the end users for network access.The main functions of the application layer are as follows −It provides a virtual network terminal through which a user can log on to the remote host on the network.It provides facilities so that a user can access and retrieve files in a remote computer for local usage, as well as manage and store files on a remote computer from the local computer.It provides e-mail services.It helps to retrieve global information and services by ... Read More