OSI Model 2.0
By stretch | Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 3:37 p.m. UTC
Responding to current trends in the world of IT, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has announced a refresh of the legacy Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model which we've all come to know and love. The original seven-layer model is to be replaced with a simplified, sleeker six-layer model which more accurately reflects service stacks seen in today's networks.
To review, the legacy OSI model featured seven layers:
- Application
- Presentation
- Session
- Transport
- Network
- Data Link
- Physical
Obviously, this was way too complex for many people in IT to comprehend. (And really, have you ever heard a decent explanation of the presentation layer's function?) The new model, OSI 2.0, features six concise layers:
- User
- Cloud
- HTTP(S)
- Virtualization
- Fabric
- Wireless
Let's look at each layer a bit closer, starting from the bottom up.
Wireless
The old physical layer has been replaced with the Wireless layer, because wired networking is so 2011. And with copper prices what they are today, who can afford to run eight strands of the stuff to every workstation or IP phone in an entire office?
Fabric
The traditional switched LAN is being replaced with an omnipresent fabric, which removes the burdens imposed by spanning tree (namely understanding how spanning tree works). The fabric layer abstracts the fabric function to allow an organization to choose from TRILL, IEEE 802.1aq, Fabric Path, or whatever other half-baked scheme comes out next week.
Virtualization
Let's face the fact: No one uses physical hardware any more, and who would want to? Virtual machines can be spun up, bounced around the fabric, and disappeared with the click of a mouse. And so long as we continue to simple extend layer across the globe, there's no limit to how far we can move them.
HTTP(S)
Given that just about everything now runs over HTTP or HTTPS, there's really no need to accommodate legacy high-layer protocols in the new model. The upper layers from the old OSI model have been condensed into the HTTP(S) layer.
Cloud
The cloud has been around for a few years, and although still no one can explain quite what it is, we can all agree that it makes us feel safer. So, ISO has included a cloud layer.
User
A direct parallel can't be drawn between this top layer and the old OSI model. Apparently, years of joking about "layer eight" problems somehow resulted in an actual layer eight (well, six) being added to the new model. Moving forward, any issues experienced on a network can be attributed to this layer by default.
Posted in Humor
Comments
April 1, 2012 at 4:08 p.m. UTC
Nice!!!
April 1, 2012 at 4:08 p.m. UTC
LOL :D
Good one !
April 1, 2012 at 4:12 p.m. UTC
Prima aprilis folks !!!
April 1, 2012 at 4:33 p.m. UTC
Sad fact, this is far from being an April joke :(
April 1, 2012 at 5:05 p.m. UTC
Genius! April Fool's wouldn't be the same without your tech April Fool's articles, Stretch!
April 1, 2012 at 5:26 p.m. UTC
I'm missing religion and politics.
Religion as in the strong believe that it has to work. That $Vendor can't be wrong.
Politics as in "Nobody was ever fired for choosing $Vendor."
April 1, 2012 at 6:17 p.m. UTC
This definitely made my April Fools' Day. Thank you!
April 1, 2012 at 7:18 p.m. UTC
LOL! I actually fell for the blog title.. :D
April 1, 2012 at 10:17 p.m. UTC
Nice joke!!!
April 1, 2012 at 10:45 p.m. UTC
I can't imagine a POSTER or Cheat Sheet explaining the OSI Model 2.0
April 2, 2012 at 1:19 p.m. UTC
LOL This is what the OSI model needs, a clear, concise, realistic and flow of networking .
April 2, 2012 at 4:39 p.m. UTC
Had i missed reading the comments then i would've definitely fallen for this one ! Nice one stretch ! Just joined this forum today. Truly awed by your blogs ( that too @26) This site is definitely staying on my browser favorites.
April 2, 2012 at 5:58 p.m. UTC
hahaha...Very good!
April 3, 2012 at 8:44 a.m. UTC
So it's Tuesday and i still managed to get fooled. Although i knew it wasn't standardized. Nice one, Stretch. Much love from Uganda!
April 3, 2012 at 5:41 p.m. UTC
An April Fool's prank well played.
April 5, 2012 at 12:40 p.m. UTC
Ok, so OSI 2.0 will be implemented together with IPV4.1?
April fool's!
Nico, from Argentina
April 6, 2012 at 12:16 p.m. UTC
Really got me! I was ready to forward this. Lol!
April 6, 2012 at 2:42 p.m. UTC
I was about to say that the OSI Seven layer is probably the easiest way to explain networking. HAHA Good One!
April 6, 2012 at 7:24 p.m. UTC
Uhhh is there some truth to that presentation layer statement :)
April 7, 2012 at 4:43 p.m. UTC
Nice B)
April 9, 2012 at 1:40 p.m. UTC
I admit you got me. I read this yesterday and I just realised it was written on April 1st this morning..
April 10, 2012 at 7:58 a.m. UTC
OMGEEE I can't believe they're doing this!!!1
April 10, 2012 at 8:06 p.m. UTC
Of course, I am reading this on 4/10, but I sure wish I had a video of my face as I began reading this. There was a moment, maybe even several seconds, where I was thinking, "Wow, really? ...OMG! oh wait, posted April 1... Whew!"
April 23, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. UTC
thanks guys...he had me too.
April 26, 2012 at 9:41 a.m. UTC
Hilarious!
May 21, 2012 at 6:18 p.m. UTC
as a R.O.L.E model,you really got me going....LOL...!!!
May 27, 2012 at 10:13 a.m. UTC
thats mean the old 7 layer model obsoleted!
August 20, 2012 at 8:07 a.m. UTC
Thanx to jeremy
April 1, 2014 at 10:18 p.m. UTC
wow... i would never hire someone who could'nt explain the now legacy model. Buzz words taking over IT.