Skip to content 
Per Wikipedia – A Mnemonic is “A device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something”
As network engineers, we are constantly tasked to remember details (and recall easily) about how networking technology works. One of the easiest ways to commit some of these facts and details to memory is by the use of a Mnemonic.
There’s are lots of different mnemonics in use within the networking industry and more being created everyday.
Here are three different topics within networking that are often hard to remember and some mnemonics to help commit these to memory.
THE 7 Layers of ISO Model Mnemonic
I think every new network engineer had trouble remembering the 7 layers of the OSI model.
- Application
- Presentation
- Session
- Transport
- Network
- Data Link
- Physical
Here are some famous (and not so famous) mnemonics for helping you remember the OSI model.
“Please Do Not Throw Salami Pizza Away” — this works for bottom-to-top. If you don’t like salami pizza, then you can try seafood or spinach pizza instead?
“All People Seem To Need Data Processing” — a top-to-bottom reminder.
BGP Best Path Algorithm Mnemonic
BGP makes its decision to route packets based on best path. But remembering what determines the best path in BGP can be a challenge.
- Weight (Highest is better)
- LOCAL_PREF (Highest is better)
- Originated Locally
- AS_PATH (shortest)
- ORIGIN Type (IGP is lower than EGP and EGP is lower than Incomplete)
- MED (lowest is better)
- Paths (External > Internal)
- RID (Router ID – lowest is better)
A cool Mnemonic we found on Richard Bannster’s Blog for remembering BGP’s best path is:
“We Love Oranges AS Oranges Mean Pure Refreshment”
Mnemonic to Remember Syslog Message types
The only time I really needed to remember this order of syslog messages was when I was studying for the CCNP SWITCH test.
- Emergency (0)
- Alert (1)
- Critical (2)
- Error (3)
- Warning (4)
- Notifications (5)
- Information (6)
- Debug (7)
Here’s a great mnemonic we found on startup-config.com, to help you to remember them in the correct order.
“Every Alley Cat Eats Watery Noodles In Doors”
Do you have any Mnemonics that you use to help you study or remember the details of networking? Leave a comment below to let us know!
26 Responses
Bogart’s Frames Per Second Did Document Drama
The PDUs for each layer of the OSI Model
Bits
Frames
Packets
Segments
Data
Data
Data
Emergency Alerts Create Early Warning Notifications In Disasters
This one to me helps me also realize Emergency is at Level 0 and Events are at Level 3. Notice it also uses several of the actual event log message word types in the Mnemonic itself.
Now if I could just figure out a mnemonic to help me remember how to spell the word mnemonic!
And kudos to prince a koka, Please Do Not Touch Steve’s Pet Alligator is the one I teach in my Cisco classes since my first name is Steve 🙂 You wouldn’t happen to be one of my former students by chance???
One other tip I can offer is try to keep the words inside the mnemonics limited to one syllable when possible. (though I didn’t do so with syslog, so I am still working on that one). But by keeping the words to one syllable when possible, it helps one in recalling the actual mnemonic itself!
Here is a good one to remember EIGRP K-values:
Beth Likes Deep Relaxing Massages
K1- Bandwidth, K2-Load, K3- Delay, K4-Reliability, K5- MTU
When configuring however there is a first value of type of service (tos) that is always zero, then that value is followed by the five K values.
So the command would be default-metric 0 1 0 1 0 0
K1 and K3 are the only ones set to 1 by default. All others are zero.,
Syslog events: “Everyone Always Complains Even When Nothing Is Different”
Good one!
I like this one very much more than my own! Easier and shorter and flows well. Thanks!
this one is the best
Syslog events: “Everyone Always Complains Even When Nothing Is Different”
Syslog:
Even A Critical Error Message Would Not Interest Donkeys
Syslog severity levels: Eat Asian Cuisine Early With Ninjas In Dubai. I saw that somewhere when I was studying for my CCNP, lol.
I always liked this one for the OSI model:
Please Don't Network These Stupid People Again
Syslog Message types
Emergency (0)
Alert (1)
Critical (2)
Error (3)
Warning (4)
Notifications (5)
Information (6)
Debug (7)
"Emergency Alert & Critical Error Warning Notifyes Information Bug"
I always liked this mnemonic for the OSI Model (top -down)
A
Priest
Saw
Two
Nuns
Doing
Push-ups
OSI
All People Seems To Need Data Processing
Don't forget 'Attempt' in that OSPF mnemonic….
OSPF Neighbour States:
DI wanted a 2-WAY so took a couple of Es got loaded and then was F***d
Down, Init, 2-WAY, Exstart, Exchange, Loading, Full.
😉
Down —————————–Does
Attempt—————————All
Init——————————–(K)Nitting
2-way—————————–Twine
Exstart—————————-Still
Exchange————————-Chaffe
Loading—————————Legs
Full——————————–Fully ?
Great Mnemonics guys! Keep them coming!
I love DORA in DHCP
1.- Discover
2.- Offer
3.- Request
4.- Acknowledge
For the Syslog severity levels, I use Eventually All Critical Errors Will Not Involve Damage. It even includes 2 of the actual severity levels in the pneumonic.
OSI Model
Pretty Damn Nasty Transport Sessions Present Applications
OSI MODEL:
Please Do Not Touch Steve's Pet Alligator…………………………..