Need of networking models

1. The Purpose of Networking Models

Humans need a common language to communicate and understand each other.

For example, imagine a person who only speaks English trying to talk to someone who only speaks Chinese. Without a shared language, they simply won’t understand one another.

Chinese and English Language Example

Networking operates in the same way : without a standardized model, devices from different vendors cannot communicate.

Networking models exist to provide a shared “language” for communication between devices. Without this common language, each device would “speak” its own language, making communication impossible.

What Is a Protocol?

A protocol is a set of rules defining how data should be communicated between devices in a network. You can think of it like a language for computers: two devices speaking different protocols can’t understand each other, just like two humans who don’t share a common language.

Vendor-Proprietary vs Vendor-Neutral Models

  • Vendor-Proprietary Models: Each manufacturer (IBM, DEC) used to design their own protocols, making it extremely difficult to mix equipment from different vendors.
  • Vendor-Neutral Models: Protocols like TCP/IP are standardized, allowing any device from any vendor to communicate seamlessly.

This concept of “vendor-neutral” models is essential because it frees us from being locked into one brand, ensuring that, for example, an Apple MacBook can talk to a server running Linux or Windows without compatibility issues.

2. Early Networking Challenges

Lack of Standardized Models

In the early days of networking, around 1980, major vendors of computing equipment, such as IBM and DEC (considered the leading company in computing equipment at the time!) and smaller manufacturers developed their own proprietary models.

Proprietary Models Before the 1980s

They designed their own languages of communication much like humans with our diverse spoken languages.

The main problem with these proprietary model was that they allowed communication only between devices from the same vendor.

This means that devices from one vendor couldn’t communicate with those from another because each used a unique set of rules.

Real-World Comparison

Imagine buying networking equipment from IBM. Later, you decide to add a new device from another vendor like DEC. These devices wouldn’t work together just like someone who speaks only English trying to communicate with someone who speaks only Chinese.

Equipment from IBM and DEC

Without a common language, communication was impossible.

Challenges of Proprietary Models

  1. Compatibility Problems
    Devices from different vendors couldn’t work together, keeping networks locked within a single vendor’s system.
  2. Vendor Dependence
    Companies were forced to stick with one vendor’s equipment, making upgrades expensive and complicated.
  3. Added Complexity
    Special solutions were needed to connect devices from different vendors, which made networks harder to manage.
  4. Limited Growth
    Expanding networks was difficult and costly because they had to be redesigned for every change.

The Consequences

To solve these problems, the need for a vendor-neutral approach emerged. A standardized way of communication was required so devices regardless of who made them could communicate together.

3. Transition to Standardized Models

To overcome the limitations of proprietary systems, a universal model for communication was introduced. This paved the way for models such as OSI and TCP/IP, which provide a common “language” that different vendors can adopt.

The Rise of TCP/IP

The TCP/IP model was first developed in the 1970s as a set of protocols to standardize communication between devices. By the 1990s, it began to gain widespread adoption, replacing proprietary models that had dominated the early networking era.

Its open and flexible design allowed networks to grow and interconnect without being tied to specific vendors. By the 2000s, TCP/IP had become the most widely used model, forming the foundation of the Internet and modern private networks.

Standardized Models 1980s and Beyond

The success of TCP/IP came from its ability to create a universal system that allowed devices to work together, making it the backbone of global communication.

4. Chronological Evolution of Networking Models

Proprietary Models (Before the 1980s)

Each vendor had its own communication model which led to isolated and incompatible networks. Devices from different vendors couldn’t communicate, effectively locking companies into proprietary models.

Proprietary Models Before the 1980s 1

Standardized Models (1980s and Beyond)

The TCP/IP model, a standardized model that is practical and universal, introduced a clear structure for communication. This enabled devices from different vendors to communicate, solving the compatibility issues that plagued proprietary models. By replacing these older systems, TCP/IP became the backbone of global communication and played a key role in driving the expansion of the Internet.

Standardized Models 1980s and Beyond 1

The Internet Era (2000s and Beyond)

By the 2000s, TCP/IP had become the dominant model for networking, connecting billions of devices worldwide. It powered the Internet, enabling global communication across networks.

The Internet Era 2000s and Beyond

What’s Next?

Now that you understand how the Internet needed a standardized model to enable devices from different vendors to communicate, let’s dive deeper.

Have you ever wondered how your laptop can access a website like pingmynetwork.com?
How does this communication happen, step by step?

In the next course, we’ll explore the OSI model, which explains how networking works, layer by layer, from the source to the destination. This model provides a clear understanding of the theory behind network communication and offers a detailed view of how data flows through networks.

OSI Model