TCP/IP Model Vs OSI Model

This article is on TCP/IP model vs OSI model. It is meant to highlight the differences between the two set standards of the industry. TCP/IP model and the OSI model have been the two protocol suites on which communication industry heavily relies on.

Both, TCP/IP model and OSI model, work in very similar fashions. But they do have very subtle differences. Knowing these differences is crucial to learning computer networking. This article will try to show the comparison between TCP/IP model vs OSI model.

A Background

OSI reference model came into existence way before TCP/IP model was created. Advance research project agency (ARPA) created OSI reference model so that they can logically group the similarly working components of the network into various layers of the protocol. But after the advent of the Internet, there arose the need for a streamlined protocol suite, which would address the need of the ever growing Internet. So the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), decided to create TCP/IP protocol suite. This was going to address many, if not all the issues that had arisen with OSI reference model.

TCP/IP Model Layers Explained So, what does TCP/IP stand for

? It is a suite of protocol which is named after its most significant pair of protocols. That is Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol. TCP/IP are are made up of layers. Each layer is responsible for a set of computer network related tasks. Every layer provides service to the the layer above it. There are in all four layers in the TCP/IP reference model.

• Application Layer: This is the topmost layer of the TCP/IP suite. This is responsible for coding of the packet data.
• Transport layer: This layer monitors end to end path selections of the packets. It also provides service to the application layer.
• Internet Layer: This layer is responsible for sending packets through different networks.
• Link Layer: It is the closest layer to the network hardware. It provides service to Internet layer.

OSI Model Layers Explained

In OSI reference model there seven layers of protocols. Again, in OSI reference model, each layer provides services to the layer above it. There are in all seven layers of in OSI. They are

• Physical Layer: It is the lower most layer of the OSI reference model. It is layer which is responsible for direct interaction of OSI model with hardware. The hardware provides service to the physical layer and it provides service to the datalink layer.
• Datalink Layer: There may be certain errors, which may occur at physical layer. If possible, these errors are corrected by datalink layer. Datalink layer provides the way by which various entities can transfer the data to the network.
• Network Layer: It does not allow the quality of the service to be degraded that was requested by transport layer. It is also responsible for data transfer sequence from source to destination.
• Transport Layer: The reliability of the data is ensured by the transport layer. It also retransmits those data that fail to reach the destination.
• Session Layer: The sessions layer is responsible for creating and terminating the connection. Management of such connection is taken care of by sessions layer.
• Presentation Layer: This layer is responsible for decoding the context (syntax and semantics) of the higher level entities.
• Application Layer: Whichever software application that implements socket programming will communicate with this layer. This layer is closest to the user.

TCP/IP Model vs OSI Model

Sr. No.

TCP/IP Reference Model

OSI Reference Model

1

Defined after the advent of Internet.

Defined before advent of internet.

2

Service interface and protocols were not clearly distinguished before

Service interface and protocols are clearly distinguished

3

TCP/IP supports Internet working

Internet working not supported

4

Loosely layered

Strict layering

5

Protocol Dependant standard

Protocol independent standard

6

More Credible

Less Credible

7

TCP reliably delivers packets, IP does not reliably deliver packets

All packets are reliably delivered

Read more on

• Computer Networking Tutorial
• OSI Model Explained

The entire communication industry stands on the back bone of TCP/IP and OSI reference model. It is very vital to learn the above differences, if anyone wants to be an expert in the field of communication.