RE: threats ID

[<john.loughney@nokia.com>]

Hi Tim,

I agree & I also wonder if this debate is really achieving anything.

thanks,
John
 
> > There is no such thing as layer 3.5.
> > 
> > Network layer solutions are at layer 3, transport layer 
> solutions are
> > at layer 4. PERIOD.
> > 
> 
> As far as I am aware, the IETF has never reached a consensus on how
> the layers are to be numbered or what layers should exist.  Clearly
> the number of layers varies depending on exactly what you are doing.
> Note that IPSEC adds a layer, increasing the number of layers below
> TCP by one.  (I would say that IPSEC looks like it is quite a bit more
> than half a layer, and it certainly appears to be thicker than many
> other things which are allowed to occupy a full unit of layering in
> our minds.)
> 
> I know that many people are aware of the layer numbering convention
> that was developed for the OSI suite of compter networking protocols,
> but I know of no reason to take that particular numbering of layers
> seriously. I have trouble keeping straight which layer is which
> number, so I would appreciate it if layers would be refered to by some
> meaningful name and not just a bare number.
> 
> What layer number you are at depends on where you start counting and
> how many things you have stuck between you and there.
> 
> 			-Tim Shepard
> 			 shep@alum.mit.edu
> 
>