The Internet

What is the Internet?

The Internet, increasngly referred to as The Net , interconnects a very large number of individual and diverse computer networks. Its name is a dimunition of 'interconnected networks'. The Internet is very large and one cannot estimate how many networks do really form the Internet. Each connected network may be of any size, use any hardware or be situated anywhere in the world. These networks include very large and well organized networks, like those of governments, universities or multi-national corporations, and small compnay networks or individual Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Connecting to the Internet.

For an individual user to access the Internet, their computer must be connected to a local network which has a connection to the Internet. If the user is using a terminal or personal computer on a company or educational organisation network, there may be a permanent connection to the Internet. If the individual only has a stand-alone computer, then a dial-up or cable connection to a specialist Internet Service Provider's network will be needed.

Why do we need Protocols

The principal requirement of any network which is conected to the Internet is the ability to communicate intelligently with it. To do this, the network must use the protocols - a set of rules in a sort of 'language'. Depending upon the types of data that users wish to receive or send, there are alos requiremetns for the capacity of links to the Internet. The Internet has its own protocols and the usual protocols are TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

Take a look at this power point presentation, if you are interested to know how the Internet started.