|  | 2.3 | Comparison of the OSI Model and the TCP/IP Model
| 2.3.5 | Use of the OSI and the TCP/IP models in the curriculum

Although TCP/IP protocols are the standards with which the Internet has grown, this curriculum will use the OSI model for the following reasons:

- It is a worldwide, generic, protocol-independent standard.
- It has more details, which makes it more helpful for teaching and learning.
- It has more details, which can be helpful when troubleshooting.

Many networking professionals have different opinions on which model to use. You should become familiar with both. You will use the OSI model as the microscope through which to analyze networks, but you will also use the TCP/IP protocols throughout the curriculum. Remember that there is a difference between a model (i.e. layers, interfaces, and protocol specifications) and an actual protocol that is used in networking. You will use the OSI model but the TCP/IP protocols.

You will focus on TCP as an OSI Layer 4 protocol, IP as an OSI Layer 3 protocol, and Ethernet as a Layer 2 and Layer 1 technology. The diagram in the Figure shows that later in the course you will examine one particular data link and physical layer technology out of the many choices available - Ethernet. If you want a preview of Ethernet, visit the Web site below.

| Lab Activity
| In this lab, you will identify the characteristics of each layer as well as the terminology and physical devices that operate at each layer.

| Web Links
| Ethernet Web Site Introduction to the Internet Protocols