Fundamentals Of Networking: OSI, DoD, And TCP/IP Models And Network Media Comparison

Types of Network Models

Networking is the perfect designing, construction and utilization of a particular network that eventually includes the physical and the logical network [2]. The physical networks are the router, hub, switch, cabling, bridge and many more. The suitable selection of the protocol of telecommunication is also an important part of networking.

The following report focuses on a brief discussion about the entire fundamentals of networking of a specific company. The owner of the organization has several issues or concerns with the interoperability of their manufacturing equipment on the network considering that different manufacturers made them [4]. The report helps them to sort out their problems easily and quickly. The description of the discussion is given below.

Interoperability of the Manufacturing Equipments

A reputed organization has hired an expert for the successful designing and installation of computer network in their office. The owner of the company has various problems or concerns with the interoperability of the manufacturing equipment on the network considering that different manufacturers made them. The various network standards are explained below.

Network Standards for the Interoperability of the Manufacturing Equipments

The network standard is the standard that usually normalizes the procedure of connection of several pieces of equipment of network. The connection is between one piece with another. The network model gives principles of guidance for developing these above mentioned network standards. There are specifically three types of network models in modern world [1]. They are the Open Systems Interconnection Model or OSI model, Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol or TCP/IP model and Department of Deference Four Layer Model or DoD model. The most widespread model of network in today’s world is the OSI model [8]. It is a type of concept oriented model, which normally standardizes and features the various functions of communication for any particular telecommunication or system of computing. The main objective of the Open Systems Interconnection Model or OSI model is the interoperability of the computer systems from various manufactures. This particular organization is exactly facing the same problem [1]. The company owner is concerned about the procedure of various network standards like OSI, TCP/IP models are helping to ensure the interoperability between the products that are made by multiple manufactures. 

Comparison between OSI, DoD and TCP/IP Network Model Standards

The comparison between the OSI, DoD and the TCP/IP network model standard is as follows:

Key Features	OSI Model (Open System Interconnection)	TCP/IP Model (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)	DoD Model (Department of Defense)
1. Number of Layers	It has seven layers, namely physical layer, data link layer, network layer, transport layer, session layer, presentation layer and application layer [5]	It has four layers namely physical layer, network layer, transport layer and application layer.	It has four layers namely network access layer, internet layer, Host to Host layer and process or application layer.
2. Approach	The OSI Model follows vertical approach	The TCP/IP Model follows horizontal approach	The DoD Model follows vertical approach
3. Definition	The OSI Model is the concept oriented, without protocol dependent network standard that acts as the gateway of communication between user and network.	The TCP/IP Model is completely based on various types of standard protocols where the internet has developed. This TCP/IP is nothing but a communication protocol that enables host connection in a network.	The DoD model is a four layer model that has core protocols attached to it.
4. Presentation and Session Layer	The OSI model has one separate presentation layer and a separate session layer [2].	The TCP/IP model does not have any separate presentation and session layer.	The DoD model does not have any separate presentation and session layer. Rather these two layers are inbuilt in the process or application layer [9].
5. Connections	The OSI model provides a connection less service	The TCP/ IP model provides a connection oriented service	The DoD model is a condensed version of OSI model and thus provides a connection less service.

The comparison between OSI, DoD and TCP/IP models using diagrams are as follows:

Comparison between OSI, DoD, and TCP/IP models

Figure 1: Comparison between OSI and TCP/IP models

Figure 2: Comparison between OSI and DoD models

The above two figures clearly describes about the comparison between OSI, TCP/IP and DoD models.

The comparison between twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber optics and wireless network are as follows:

Key Features	Twisted Pair Cable	Coaxial Cable	Fiber Optics	Wireless Network
1. Signal Transmission	Signal transmission occurs in the form of electrical with the help of wires with metallic conduction.	Signal transmission occurs in the form of electrical with the help of inner conductor of the cable.	Transmission of signal occurs in a form of optics over a fiber of glass [5].	Transmission of signal occurs by wireless connections and without the help of any wires or cables.
2. Cost	Twisted Pair Cables are extremely cheap and can be afforded by all [7].	Coaxial cable is moderately high in price and can be afforded by most of the companies.	Fiber optics are extremely expensive and only few organizations have the capability to afford them	Wireless network is moderately high in price and can be afforded by most of the organizations [3].
3. Bandwidth	Twisted Pair Cables have low bandwidth	Coaxial Cable has moderately high bandwidth	Fiber Optics have extremely high bandwidth	Wireless network have moderately high bandwidth.
4. Installation	Installation of this medium is extremely simple and easy	Installation of this particular medium is fairly easy and simple	Installation of fiber Optics is extremely difficult and complicated	Installation of wireless network is extremely simple and easy.

Considering all the features of the four media, which are the twisted pair cables, fiber optics, coaxial cable and wireless network, the wireless network would be the best solution for the organization [2]. The wireless network is the simplest and easiest media for any organization as the installation is easy and cost is also affordable by all. Moreover, the bandwidth of wireless network is moderately high and thus there is less chance of network disturbances in the office premises. The signal transmission can occur without any kind of wires or cables present in the office [10]. Therefore, it can be concluded that Wireless network would be the best and the most appropriate type of media for this particular organization.

The organization is again expected to run an application, which will be transmitting data records to a specific backup site. The size of the data records in 1000 bytes and this application will be sending each data record in every 0.25 seconds.

The synchronous signals are those signals, which normally take place at the similar rate of clock. This takes place when each and every clock is based on one single reference clock. The data is transferred in a synchronous manner when both the sender and the receiver utilizes the similar signal of the clock [3]. The asynchronous connection is the exact opposite of synchronous connection. Here, the sender and the receiver does not use the similar signal of clock and thus there is a difference between them. The sender gives a synchronizing signal to its receiver before any message is transferred. The data transfer rate is slower. For this particular organization, the utilization of synchronous connections will be more efficient as it supports huge rate of data transfer in less time [6]. The size of the data records in 1000 bytes and this application will be sending each data record in every 0.25 seconds, which is extremely fast. Synchronous connection would be the best for this case.

Synchronous transmission of data is the method of transferring data where a series of data signals is adjusted by various timing signals for ensuring that the sender and the receiver are synchronized in manner.

Figure 3: Synchronous Transmission

Asynchronous transmission does its job in bulk amount and puts a start bit before every character of data and a stop bit after every data character [6]. This informs the sender and receiver about the beginning and end.

Figure 4: Asynchronous Transmission

Conclusion

Therefore, from the above discussion, it can be concluded that networking is the procedure of designing, utilization and construction of any specific network, which ultimately includes the logical and the physical network. The physical networks are mainly the router, hub, switch, cabling, bridge and many more. The appropriate assortment of the protocol of telecommunication is also a significant division of networking. The protocol should be utilized properly. Specific computer software is utilized for the control and the utilization of the network. The procedures and policies of operation are established while networking. The above report describes about a particular organization that is designing and installing a new computer network in the office. The report describes about the various types of network models like OSI, TCP/IP, DoD models. The report also discusses about the several media like coaxial cable, optical fiber. The synchronous and the asynchronous connections are also explained here for the organization.

References

[1]M. Ko?odziejczyk and M. Ogiela, “Applying of security mechanisms to middle and high layers of OSI/ISO network model”, Theoretical and Applied Informatics, vol. 24, no. 1, 2012.

[2]B. Forouzan, Data communications and networking. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2013.

[3]H. Jung, Future information communication technology and applications. Dordrecht: Springer, 2013.

[4]D. Frey, Distributed computing and networking. Berlin: Springer, 2013.

[5]H. Hodara, “Brief Review ofOptical Fiber Communication (OFC) Conference 2013”, Fiber and Integrated Optics, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 143-144, 2013.

[6]P. Stern, “Connection, Connection, Connection…”, Science, vol. 342, no. 6158, pp. 577-577, 2013.

[7]”Introduction to Computer and Network Security”, Network Security, vol. 2013, no. 11, p. 4, 2013.

[8]”Introduction to Information Security”, Network Security, vol. 2013, no. 12, p. 4, 2013.

[9]I. Boureanu, P. Owesarski and S. Vaudenay, Applied Cryptography and Network Security. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2014.

[10]F. Bao, P. Samarati and J. Zhou, Applied Cryptography and Network Security. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2012.