Internet

Internet

1. Key terms

   • The internet is simply a worldwide computer network that uses standardised communication protocols to transmit and exchange data. The internet has a whole vocabulary of its own. Table 1.2 explains some of the terms that you need to be familiar with

2. Point of Presence

   • An access point to the internet. Normally, it is a location which contains all of the hardware which allows internet users access to the internet. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) may operate several PoPs in their area to allow good access to the internet.

3. network Access Point

   • an interchange between networks within the internet. it allows ISP to interconnect with each other

4. internet Protocol

   • the protocol used to route packets of information across the internet. An individual unit of data which is carried across a network, including the internet. It is made up of a header which identifi es the packet and a body which is the actual data message. It is one of the functions of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to organise an internet

5. transmission control Protocol

   • the protocol which takes data from a user’s application program and passes it to the IP for transfer across the internet. The reverse operation is performed at the destination computer, i.e. the TCP reassembles the data (from individual packets) and forwards them to the user’s application program. The close relation with the IP means that the terms are usually used in combination, i.e. TCP/IP.

6. File transfer Protocol

   • A standard protocol which allows files to be transferred between two computers on a TCP-based network. It is commonly used to download programs to your computer from other servers and to upload web pages that you have created to the server that is hosting them on the internet.

7. internet Service Provider

   • Direct connection to the internet would be very costly and so ISPs provide a cost-effective gateway for people and organisations to get onto the internet. In the UK there are many ISPs, with some of the most popular ones being BT (British Telecom), Virgin Media and Sky.

8. iSP services

   • In addition to providing a gateway to the internet, ISPs normally provide additional services such as email. Many also provide web space for the development of websites, technical support and troubleshooting.