The terms networking, communications, and connectivity are often used interchangeably, although these terms do have context-specific differences. For the sake of clarity, in this section, we shall define these terms and adhere to those definitions for the remainder of this book.
To arrive at the definitions, let's take recourse to the three prevalent standard-based information technology stack models:
- Seven-layer OSI model (ISO/IEC 7498)
- Four-layer TCP/IP stack
- IIoT connectivity stack model (IIC-IICF)
Figure 5.1 shows the relative mapping of the various layers in each of the stack models:
Figure 5.1: Relative mapping of the communication stack models
As shown in Figure 5.1, the Network section of the stack deals with the infrastructure, technologies, and protocols for routing and forwarding packets between any two devices. The Connectivity section involves infrastructure, technologies, and protocols that encompass the entire stack, including...
