Reflection Discussion 1: Communication Layers

In this class, you learned about a foundational organizing principle in networking: layers of communication. The OSI model and the TCP/IP model are both commonly used to guide network design, maintenance, and troubleshooting tasks.

TCP/IP model has different layers. The analogy of the a letter being mailed via the post office to illustrate the nature of each layer in the OSI model. Many other analogies can be used to further describe how communications layers function in a system. What examples can you think of? Consider in what ways you notice one person, company, or other entity communicate with another person, company, or other entity indirectly through multiple layers. Then answer the following questions:

• What is a real-life example of how layers in a system indirectly connect two entities (such as a person or company) in communication?
• What layers can you identify in this system?
• How are these layers similar to the layers of the OSI model?