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Ethereum: How to explain blockchain in terms of OSI 7-layer model? Is it based on service in the transport layer

Published by Terlumun Aondover on February 11th, 2025.

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Blockchain Explained: How Ethereum’s Consensus Mechanism Fits into the 7-Layer OSI Model

As someone new to blockchain technology, you need to understand its basic architecture and how it integrates with other systems. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Ethereum blockchain network and see how its consensus mechanism fits into the 7-Layer OSI model.

Introduction to the 7-Layer OSI Model

The 7-Layer OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model is a unified framework for understanding the structure of computer networks. It describes the seven layers that communicate and exchange data:

Physical Layer: Defines the physical way data is transmitted over the network.

Data Link Layer: Ensures error-free transmission of data frames between two devices on the same network.

Network Layer: Routes data packets between different networks.

Transport Layer

: Ensures reliable, error-proof, and orderly delivery of data.

Session Layer: Creates, manages, and terminates connections between applications running on different systems.

Presentation Layer: Converts data into a format that the receiving system understands.

Application Layer

: Handles application-specific services such as email, file transfer, and web browsing.

Blockchain in the 7-Layer OSI Model

Let’s now see how the Ethereum blockchain fits into the 7-Layer OSI model:

Physical Layer (not directly relevant): Because Ethereum uses a peer-to-peer network architecture, no physical media are required to transfer data.

Data Link Layer: Although not explicitly used in Ethereum, data packets are typically encrypted and routed through multiple networks (e.g. routers) to ensure reliable transmission.

Network Layer: Ethereum’s decentralized network allows nodes to communicate with each other across different locations and organizations.

Transport Layer: The Ethereum protocol provides reliable, fault-tolerant, and orderly delivery of transactions (units of data) between nodes.

Session Layer: Each block in the blockchain is a separate entity that initiates and manages communication between related blocks.

Presentation Layer: The Ethereum blockchain network is encrypted using public key cryptography to ensure secure data exchange.

Application Layer: The Ethereum platform provides services such as transaction verification, cryptocurrency mining, and smart contract execution.

Consensus Mechanism: Transport Layer Service

The consensus mechanism in Ethereum can be viewed as a service provided by the transport layer. It ensures that all nodes in the network agree on the state of the blockchain and maintain its integrity. For example, the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm uses advanced cryptographic techniques to verify transactions and create new blocks, much like routing data packets across multiple networks requires careful planning and coordination.

In this analogy, just as the transport layer ensures efficient data transfer between nodes, the Ethereum consensus mechanism ensures that all nodes agree on the state of the blockchain and maintain its integrity. This is not exactly the same way that data is transferred over the network as is done with physical methods, but it provides a similar level of reliability and security.

Conclusion

To summarize, the Ethereum blockchain network integrates with the 7-layer OSI model in various ways: