The Internet

What is the Internet?

Domain Names

IP Addresses

Relationship between domain names and IP

addresses

Data Packets

Packet Switching

Function of routers

My Information Sources

What Is the Internet?

The Internet is a global network that offers a lot of information. According to Internet World Stats from December 31, 2011 there was an estimated 2,267,233,742 Internet users worldwide. The Internet includes commercial, educational and governmental information.  It consists of interconnected networks that use standardized communication protocols.

Domain NamesA domain name is a unique name that

identifies the certain domain it belongs to, i.e. a website. They are used in URL’s to identify specific

webpages.

IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address has been designed to allow one computer (or other digital device) to communicate with another via the Internet. It contains four numbers that have one to three digits and a

single dot separating each number or set of digits. Each of the four numbers can range from

0 to 255.

IP Addresses

What is the relationship between

the two?Your domain name points to your

IP address. The domain name directs you to the address that contains your web site. This

address is called the IP address and is a series of numbers, such

as 234.24.234.12. This IP address then leads you to the location on the server that has

your web site files.

Data Packets‘Packets’ are pieces of data

that have been broken down into small bits when the information has been sent from one computer to another. Everything you do on the internet involves packets!

(Every e-mail you send leaves as a series of packets and web

pages that you receive come as a series of packets.

Packet SwitchingPacket-switched is the type of network where small units of data called packets are routed through a network based on the destination address contained in each packet. Most movement over the Internet uses packet

switching.

Function of routersRouters usually have three main functions:• Packet Forwarding• Packet switching • Packet filteringRouters communicate with each other to share information about accessible paths and directly connected routes. The two main types of routers are static and dynamic.

My Information Sources

• http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new/internet/internet_www/miniweb/index.htm

• http://www.teach-ict.com/technology_explained/packet_switching/packet_switching.html

• http://www.webopedia.com/• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/• http://www.techopedia.com/definition/6751/data-packet