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OSI model vs TCP/IP model

As I already covered the OSI model where I showed all the 7 layers from Application to physical layer and the uses of all the layers. Today I am going to discuss regarding the TCP/IP model which has only four layers to send the data from source to destination. In the wider view of TCP/IP model you have Application, Transport, Internet and Link Layer while in the OSI model you have Application layer, Presentation layer, Session Layer, Transport Layer, Network Layer, Data-Link Layer and Physical Layer.

If we going to compare these models with each other, Application layer, presentation layer and Session layer in OSI model is merged and became the Application layer in the TCP/IP model. It means, Application layer of the TCP/IP model works all the application, presentation and session layer work.
Fig 1.1- OSI and TCP/IP model

Secondly, if we are looking for the transport layer, this layer is same in OSI and in the TCP/IP model where TCP and UDP is working for the transport of the data from source to destination. You may know that TCP will work with 3-way handshake process for the reliability of the data from source to destination while UDP just send the data from source to destination without even covering whether the data received at another end or not.

Thirdly, Network layer in the OSI model replaced via Internet layer in the TCP/IP model, however the work of the internet layer is same as network layer of the OSI model.


Fourthly, we have Link layer in TCP/IP where both Datalink and Physical layer of OSI model merges, so Link layer in TCP/IP works as switching and the physical information of the network.

TCP/IP Model Layers and Protocols
  • Application layer in TCP/IP model: DNS, DHCP, FTP, HTTP, IMAP, LDAP, NTP, POP3, RTSP, SMTP, Telnet, TFTP, JPEG, MIDI, MPEG, TIFF, NetBIOS, NFD, PAP, SCP, SQL, ZIP
  • Transport Layer in TCP/IP model: TCP and UDP
  • Internet Layer in TCP/IP model:  ICMP, IGMP, IPSEC, IPV6, IPX
  • Link Layer in TCP/IP model: ARP,ATM,CDP,FDDI,Frame-Relay, HDLC, PPP, STP,Token-Ring, Ethernet, DSL,ISDN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

OSI Model Layers and Protocols

  • Application layer in OSI model: DNS, DHCP, FTP, HTTP, IMAP, LDAP, NTP, POP3, RTSP, SMTP, Telnet, TFTP
  • Presentation Layer in OSI model: JPEG, MIDI, MPEG, TIFF
  • Session Layer in OSI model: NetBIOS, NFD, PAP, SCP, SQL, ZIP
  • Transport Layer in OSI model: TCP and UDP
  • Network Layer in OSI model: ICMP, IGMP, IPSEC, IPV6, IPX
  • Data-Link layer in OSI model: ARP,ATM,CDP,FDDI,Frame-Relay, HDLC, PPP, STP,Token-Ring
  • Physical Layer in OSI model: Ethernet, DSL,ISDN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Below is the table shows the OSI model and TCP/IP model comparison. Click on the image for best view.

Fig 1.2- TCP/IP and OSI models