Networking Management

1. (i) List the five key differences between TCP reference model and OSI reference model. (2)

OSI is a standard "reference model" that describes how protocols should interact with one another. TCP/IP became one of the "standards" that enabled the Internet to become what it is today. TCP/IP doesn't map cleanly into the OSI model, but it is convenient to think in terms of the OSI model when describing protocols.

The major differences between the OSI and TCP/IP are:

1] The ISO/OSI protocol is a 7 layer reference model that was designed after TCP/IP model, which only has 4 layers

2] The application layer in TCP/IP handles the responsibilities of layers 5,6, and 7 in the OSI model.

3] The Network access layer in TCP/IP handles the responsibilities of layers 2 and 1 in the OSI model

4] In OSI Model Both connectionless and connection-oriented communication are supported in the network layer, but only connection-oriented communication in the transport layer.

While in TCP model Only one mode in the network layer (connectionless) but both modes in the transport layer are supported, giving the users a choice.

5] TCP/IP is considered to be a more credible model- This is mainly due to the fact because TCP/IP protocols are the standards around which the internet was developed therefore it mainly gains creditability due to this reason.  Where as in contrast networks are not usually built around the OSI model as it is merely used as a guidance tool.

6] The transport layer in TCP/IP does not always guarantee reliable delivery of packets as the transport layer in the OSI model does.

(ii) Write the similarities and differences between packet and cell switching. (2)

Packet-switched and circuit-switched networks use two different technologies for sending messages and data from one point to another.

Each have their advantages and disadvantages depending on what you are trying to do.

* In packet-based networks, the message gets broken into...