[brianl703]

TCP/IP predates the OSI layer by about a decade, and it seems to me that what you have described is basically a systematic approach to troubleshooting (which also predates the OSI layer).

Maybe one could make the case that the OSI layer is also systematic, and perhaps to someone who has no concept of what depends on what to function, it can be useful as a teaching tool.

[Centurion2000]

TCP/IP predates the OSI layer by about a decade, and it seems to me that what you have described is basically a systematic approach to troubleshooting (which also predates the OSI layer).

True, and there was a DoD TCP/IP layer of networking model. BUT, the OSI was generated in order to teach the concenpts and to cover multiple protocols.

The other advantage of the OSI is at troubleshooting the lower levels (frayed cable, bad switch port). It is systematic and it does work well. For a beginner to truly understand networking, it makes an invaluable tool.