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The OSI model is designed to ensure compatibility of network devices (and their operating systems) regardless of manufacturer. OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection and is defined by the International Standard Organisation (ISO). The model has seven layers: Application layer Presentation layer System layer Transport layer Network layer Data layer Physical layer Which can be remembered by either of two mnemonics: All People Seem To Need Data Processing or from the bottom up:...

Concerns the basics of networking, starting with some common terminology of data transmission. This can be summarised as: A sender has some data they want to send to a receiver. That data needs to be converted into a message for sending. The message needs to be transmitted via some form of medium. The receiver needs to be able to turn that signal back into the data that has been sent....

Network fundamentals explores how computer networks are designed to enable the sharing of data taking into account three key requirements: Performance. The sharing of data and resources doesn’t degrade the computers on the network. Reliability. The network doesn’t fall over all the time. Security. Data is only shared with those that should have access to it. Types Peer to Peer is where every node on the network has equal access to the network and each node shares data and resources....

Kick-off’s are a great way of bringing a new team together at the start of a new project or phase of a project. The aim is to allow the team to get to know one another and to allow all the team members to understand the goals and objectives. I recently helped facilitate a kick-off for the alpha phase of the ‘Protect’ service (working title). Although Protect had been through a discovery phase, circumstances meant that the Alpha team was quite different to the Discovery team....

I love hill climbing and mountaineering, ever since I was dragged up Pen-Y-Fan and got mild hypothermia in the scouts at about the age of 13. One of the best things yomping up hills has taught me is the nature of risk. So I was a bit surprised when I saw this tweet from Vasco Duarte: I have a lot of respect for Mr Duarte, his work in with the #NoEstimates agenda and his focus on measuring data and forecasting over, estimation and guesswork is interesting and inspiring....