byte.org
19962013
First weblogs, 2002–2003

Towards a simplified Basic Reference Model

in Random Bytes

At IETF-49 Rich Shockey and I had an epiphany about the OSI Reference Model. The idea we had was that the original OSI model had largely been supplanted by a slightly modified de facto stack that included two additional layers for a total of nine. We felt that there was a much easier rationalization of these nine layers that would be of tremendous benefit to the community. Shortly after the meeting, I uploaded a diagram that illustrates the the basic idea pretty succinctly.

For some reason, it hasn't caught on like wildfire, but it should be shared nonetheless.

See this post as it first appeared on the original site.