By far the most common protocol used at the physical layer is Ethernet. The physical layer of the network focuses on hardware elements, such as cables, repeaters, and network interface cards.
HTTP, FTP, Telnet, SMTP, and DNS(combined Session/Presentation/Application Layers)Īssuming you want to send an e-mail message to someone in Italy, we will examine the layers 'from the bottom up' - beginning with Ethernet (physical/data link layers).In this model, there are four layers, including:
OSI model related to common network protocolsįigure 1 illustrates how some of the major protocols would correlate to the OSI model in order to communicate via the Internet. The complexity of these layers is beyond the scope of this tutorial however, they can be simplified into four layers to help identify some of the protocols with which you should be familiar (see fig 1).įig 1. The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Reference Model defines seven layers of networking protocols.
Many different types of network protocols and standards are required to ensure that your computer (no matter which operating system, network card, or application you are using) can communicate with another computer located on the next desk or half-way around the world. In order for two computers to talk to each other, they must be speaking the same language. A protocol is a set of rules that governs the communications between computers on a network.
