Internet Lesson 2

What is a protocol?

• A protocol is an agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices.
• The protocol determines the following:
• the type of error checking to be used
• data compression method
• how the sending device will indicate that it has finished sending a message
• how the receiving device will indicate that it has received a message
• There are a variety of standard protocols each for a particular use
• Your device must support the right protocol if you want to communicate with other devices
• The protocol can be implemented either in hardware or in software

Brief history of the Internet?

Military Reasons

• ARPA - Aim: Secure against destruction of nodes during the Cold War military purposes
• 4 Computers connected together with packet switching (data is split into packets to arrive to destination)
• 1973 - DARPA using TCP/IP = Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol
• 1983 - Started internet (needed to be an expert to use)
• 1983 to 1992 - More computers added: 727,000 (Used Unix)

Research Purposes

• 1986 - Establishment of DNS: Domain Name System - DNS - instead of inputting the IP (Internet Protocol) address eg: http://172.217.15.110/ and http://www.google.com display the same page in a web browser!
• Try this website to find the ip address of a domain https://www.whatismyip.com

Commercial Purposes

• 1989 - Proposal of the World Wide Web
• 1992 - First Web Server in North America
• Privatisation: Companies install local networks and buy connectivity to the backbone (main network connections composing the Internet)

What happens when you connect to the Internet?

• When you connect to the Internet your computer becomes part of a network
• First you must be subscribed to an ISP (Internet Service Provider) - gives you a username and password
• Then you need to connect to your ISP either via the telephone line or dedicated lines such as the Cable Internet
• When you connect to the ISP you become part of his network
• The ISP connects to another larger network called the backbone
• In this way you are connected to the Internet

Assignment 2

Send an e-mail with the following information:

To:   [email protected]
Subject:   your name, surname and class - assignment 2
Main Text:   List 3 names (both the acronynm and full name) of different network protocols and for each state what is their use

References

• Webopedia Computer Dictionary (on-line): http://webopedia.com/TERM/p/protocol.html
• Howstuff Works (on-line): http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm
• Ivan Buttigieg, A Complete Computer Course, Qrendi-Malta 2002
• History Of The Internet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8K49dD52WA