Tip:- This post is part of the Complete Guide to the OSI Model series.

James May wants to send his lego house to a friend.

The OSI Model is a model set out by International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is one of many models that separates computer networking into understandable sections we can follow not only to understand networking, but also to ensure that any hardware we make conforms to the required standards.

I struggled for a while to get to grips with the OSI Model and what it actually was. This prevented me from properly understanding Computer Networking until I bit the bullet and went for a Networking Degree at University. While completing the course (and after several quarrels with my lecturer) it quickly became apparent to me how easy the OSI Model is to grasp if you have a basic understanding of software and hardware. It’s often over complicated, and it doesn’t need to be, it’s a simple idea.

While learning about the OSI Model I found it much easier to compare it to my own analogy of the postal system (sending a letter or package). You can break anything up into layers and this is the best example I can think of. Hopefully it will help you understand the OSI Model. Read more