OSI Model Question

Hello everyone!

I am taking a network and communications class and one the assignments this week is to write a paper on the following topic

Why would you not find an enterprise network in the real world that exactly fits the OSI Model?

I understand the basic OSI Model and the 7 layers associated with it but am having problems coming up with an example of why a network would not fit it. Any suggestions or insights?

Well the OSI-model is a theoretical model that explains how things should work. In real life however the layers aren't so well defined as with it OSI and it is sometimes quite hard to tell which layer performs what function. So OSI from ISO is a theoretical framework where TCP/IP, IBM Token Ring and others are practical implementations

Dreamer is spot on as usual. The layers in the OSI model identify and define all the different processes that a communications stack will have to undertake to talk sucessfully to the stack at the other end of the link. The model is an aid to understanding and robust design rather than a real-life system. Software designers will then implement the bits of the model that they need for their particular product or system. They may use one big piece of code that does the lot, or perhaps two or three interconnecting modules that share out the processing. One module of code might implement the functions of more than one layer of the model

ifconfig brain down


The section we have on the OSI model is really thorough.. we've devoted a page to each layer.. have a look.

Cheers,