OSI Model

The OSI, or Open System Interconnection, model defines a networking framework for implementing protocols in seven layers.

The 7 layers are as follows:

Layer 1- broadcast technologies (hub, access point)

Layer 2- switch, NIC (hard coded mac address)

Layer 3- router (anything that uses Ipv4 or ipv6)

Layer 4- ports for use with applications to access the network from within an operating system, Port numbers are a way of directing packets to specific applications

Layer 5- maintains connections between hosts

Layer 6- ensures common formatting of packets so they can be recognised by any device

Layer 7- software applications e.g. web browsers