Unit – 1 Introduction to Internet

1.1 Concept of Internet

1.1.1 Introduction to Internet

 Internet is a group of computer systems related from all around the world. And
it is a global network of billions of computers and other electronic devices. With
the Internet, it's possible to access almost any information, communicate with
anyone else in the world, and do much more.
 The Internet is a worldwide connectivity of hundreds of thousands of computers
of various types that belong to multiple networks.
 The Internet gives a huge variety of statistics and communique offerings, which
includes forums, databases, email, and hypertext. It is made of the neighborhood
to global personal, public networks connected through plenty of digital, wireless,
and networking technologies.

1.1.2 Evolution of Internet

 The ARPANET (later renamed the internet) established a successful link between
the University of California Los Angeles and the Stanford Research Institute on
October 29, 1969. Libraries automate and network catalogs outside of ARPANET
in the late 1960s.
 TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol) is established in the
1970s, allowing internet technology to mature. The development of these
protocols aided in the standardization of how data was sent and received via the
internet.
 NSFNET, the 56 Kbps backbone of the internet, was financed by the National
Science Foundation in 1986. Because government monies were being used to
administer and maintain it, there were commercial restrictions in place at the
time.

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 In the year 1991, a user-friendly internet interface was developed. Delphi was
the first national commercial online service to offer internet connectivity in July
1992.
 Later in May 1995, all restrictions on commercial usage of the internet are lifted.
As a result, the internet has been able to diversify and grow swiftly.
 Wi-Fi was first introduced in 1997.
 The year is 1998, and Windows 98 is released. Smartphone use is widespread in
2007.
 The 4G network is launched in 2009. The internet is used by 3 billion people
nowadays.
 By 2030, there are expected to be 7.5 billion internet users and 500 billion
devices linked to the internet.

1.1.3 Internet Services

 To access/exchange a large amount of data such as software, audio clips, video
clips, text files, other documents, etc., we need internet services. You must use
an Internet service to connect to the Internet. Data can be sent from Internet
servers to your machine via Internet service.
 Some of the commonly used internet services are :
 Communication Services
 Information Retrieval Services
 File Transfer
 World Wide Web Services
 Web Services
 Directory Services
 Automatic Network Address Configuration
 Network Management Services
 Time Services
 Usenet
 Newsgroup
 Ecommerce

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1. Communication Services: To exchange data/information among individuals or

organizations, we need communication services. Following are some of the
common communication services:
a. IRC(Internet Relay Chat): Subscribers can communicate in real-time by
connecting numerous computers in public spaces called channels.
b. VoIP: It stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, which describes how to
make and receive phone calls over the internet. A larger number of people
believe VoIP is a viable alternative to traditional landlines.
c. E-Mail: Used to send electronic mail via the internet. It is a paperless
method for sending text, images, documents, videos, etc from one person
to another via the internet.
d. User Network (USENET): It hosts newsgroups and message boards on
certain topics, and it is mostly run by volunteers.
e. Telnet: It’s used to connect to a remote computer that’s connected to
the internet.
f. Video Conferencing: Video conferencing systems allow two or more
people who are generally in different locations to connect live and
visually. It allows numerous people to connect and collaborate face to
face over large distances. Tools available for this purpose are Zoom,
FreeConference, Google Hangouts, Skype, etc.

2. Information Retrieval Services: It is the procedure for gaining access to

information/data stored on the Internet. Net surfing or browsing is the process
of discovering and obtaining information from the Internet. When your computer
is linked to the Internet, you may begin retrieving data. To get data, we need a
piece of software called a Web browser. A print or computer-based information

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retrieval system searches for and locates data in a file, database, or other
collection of data.

3. File Transfer: The exchange of data files across computer systems is referred to
as file transfer. Using the network or internet connection to transfer or shift a file
from one computer to another is known as file transfer. To share, transfer, or
send a file or logical data item across several users and/or machines, both locally
and remotely, we use file transfer. Data files include – documents, multimedia,
pictures, text, and PDFs and they can be shared by uploading or downloading
them. To retrieve information from the internet, there are various services
available such as:
a. Gopher: A file retrieval application based on hierarchical, distributed
menus that is simple to use.
b. FTP (File Transfer Protocol): To share, transfer, or send a file or logical
data item across several users and/or machines, both locally and
remotely.

4. Web services: Web services are software that uses defined messaging protocols
and are made accessible for usage by a client or other web-based programs
through an application service provider’s web server. Web services allow
information to be exchanged across web-based applications. Using Utility
Computing, web services can be provided.

5. World Wide Web: The internet is a vast network of interconnected computers.

Using this network, you can connect to the World Wide Web (abbreviated as
‘www’ or ‘web’) is a collection of web pages. The web browser lets you access
the web via the internet.

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6. Directory Services: A directory service is a set of software that keeps track of

information about your company, customers, or both. Network resource names
are mapped to network addresses by directory services. A directory service
provides users and administrators with full transparent access to printers,
servers, and other network devices. The directory services are :
a. DNS (Domain Number System): This server provides DNS. The mappings
of computer hostnames and other types of domain names to IP addresses
are stored on a DNS server.
b. LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol): It is a set of open
protocols that are used for obtaining network access to stored data
centrally. It is a cross-platform authentication protocol for directory
services and also allows users to interact with other directory services
servers.
7. Automatic Network Address Configuration: Automatic Network Addressing
assigns a unique IP address to every system in a network. A DHCP Server is a
network server that is used to assign IP addresses, gateways, and other network
information to client devices. It uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol as a
common protocol to reply to broadcast inquiries from clients.

8. Network Management Services: Network management services are another

essential internet service that is beneficial to network administrators. Network
management services aid in the prevention, analysis, diagnosis, and resolution of
connection problems. The two commands related to this are:
a. ping: The ping command is a Command Prompt command that is used to
see if a source can communicate with a specific destination & get all the
possible paths between them.

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b. traceroute: To find the path between two connections, use the

traceroute command.

9. Time Services: Using facilities included in the operating system, you may set your
computer clock via the Internet. Some services are :
a. Network Time Protocol (NTP): It is a widely used internet time service
that allows you to accurately synchronize and adjust your computer
clock.
b. The Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP): It is a time-keeping protocol
that is used to synchronize network hardware. When a full
implementation of NTP is not required, then this simplified form of NTP
is typically utilized.

10.Usenet: The ‘User’s Network’ is also known as Usenet. It is a network of online

discussion groups. It’s one of the first networks where users may upload files to
news servers and others can view them.

11.News Group: It is a lively Online Discussion Forum that is easily accessible via
Usenet. Each newsgroup contains conversations on a certain topic, as indicated
by the newsgroup name. Users can use newsreader software to browse and
follow the newsgroup as well as comment on the posts. A newsgroup is a debate
about a certain topic made up of notes posted to a central Internet site and
distributed over Usenet, a global network of news discussion groups. It uses
Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP).

12.E-commerce: Electronic commerce, also known as e-commerce or e-Commerce,

is a business concept that allows businesses and individuals to buy and sell goods
through the internet. Example: Amazon, Flipkart, etc. websites/apps.

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1.1.4 Advantage and disadvantages of Internet

Advantages:
 E-mail: Email is now an essential communication tools in business. With e-mail
you can send and receive instant electronic messages, which work like writing
letters. Your messages are delivered instantly to people anywhere in the world,
unlike traditional mail that takes a lot of time. Email is free, fast and very cheap
when compared to telephone, fax and postal services.

 24 hours a day - 7 days a week: Internet is available, 24x7 days for usage.

 Information: Information is probably the biggest advantage Internet is offering.

There is a huge amount of information available on the internet for just about
every subject, ranging from government law and services, trade fairs and
conferences, market information, new ideas and technical support.
 You can almost find any type of data on almost any kind of subject that you are
looking for by using search engines like google, yahoo, msn, etc.

 Online Chat: You can access many ‘chat rooms’ on the web that can be used to
meet new people, make new friends, as well as to stay in touch with old friends.
You can chat in MSN and yahoo websites.

 Services: Many services are provided on the internet like net banking, job
searching, purchasing tickets, hotel reservations, guidance services on array of
topics engulfing every aspect of life.

 E-commerce: Along with getting information on the Internet, you can also shop
online. There are many online stores and sites that can be used to look for
products as well as buy them using your credit card. You do not need to leave
your house and can do all your shopping from the convenience of your home. It

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has got a real amazing and wide range of products from household needs,
electronics to entertainment.

 Entertainment: Internet provides facility to access wide range of Audio/Video

songs, plays films. Many of which can be downloaded. One such popular website
is YouTube.

 Software Downloads: You can freely download innumerable, softwares like

utilities, games, music, videos, movies, etc from the Internet.

Limitations of Internet
 Theft of Personal information: Electronic messages sent over the Internet can
be easily snooped and tracked, revealing who is talking to whom and what they
are talking about.
 If you use the Internet, your personal information such as your name, address,
credit card, bank details and other information can be accessed by unauthorized
persons.

 Internet addiction: There is some controversy over whether it is possible to

actually be addicted to the Internet or not. Some researchers, claim that it is
simply people trying to escape their problems in an online world.

 Virus threat: Today, not only are humans getting viruses, but computers are also.
Computers are mainly getting these viruses from the Internet. Virus is a program
which disrupts the normal functioning of your computer systems.

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1.2 Internet Connections

1.2.1 Types of Internet connection

1. Dial-up Connection
 Dial-up connection uses telephone line to connect PC to the internet. It requires
a modem to setup dial-up connection. This modem works as an interface
between PC and the telephone line.
 A dial-up connection is established between your computer and the ISP server
using a modem.
 A dial-up Connection is a cheap and traditional connection that is not preferred
these days as this type of connection is very slow.
 To access the internet connection in the dial-up connection we need to dial a
phone number on the computer and that’s why it requires a telephone
connection. It requires a modem to set up a dial-up connection, which works as
interference between your computer and the telephone line. In this connection,
we can use either an internet connection or telephone at a time.
 There is also a communication program that instructs the modem to make a call
to specific number provided by an ISP.
 Dial-up connection uses either of the following protocols:
o Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
o Point to Point Protocol (PPP)
 The following diagram shows the accessing internet using modem:

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2. Leased Connection
 A leased line, sometimes called a dedicated line, is a dedicated point-to-point link
and fixed-bandwidth data connection.
 A leased line is not a dedicated cable. It is a reserved dedicated leased line circuit
(either a copper or a fiber optic cable) between two points.
 The leased line transfers data in both directions using a full-duplex transmission.
It uses two pairs of wires (full-duplex cable), that each wire is used in a
unidirectional transmission of data network.
 A leased line is not a long physical cable extended to two or more locations as
others perceived. It uses a specialized switching device that acts as a signal
booster to make the connection a point-to-point link and reach a remote
destination.
 Organizations are not building their infrastructure to create a dedicated
connection to their other branches as it is expensive and difficult to implement.
 They use the infrastructure of an Internet Service Provider on a fixed monthly
fee, which is why it is called a leased line.
 The below diagram shows how the leased line connects two branches:

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3. Broadband Connection
 Broadband refers to high-speed internet access that is faster than traditional dial-
up access. It is provided through either cable or telephone composition.
 It does not require any telephone connection that’s why here we can use
telephone and internet connection simultaneously.
 In this connection, more than one person can access the internet connection
simultaneously.
 It is a wide bandwidth data transmission that transports several signals and traffic
types.
 In this connection, the medium used is coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, radio, or
twisted pair cable.

4. Wi-fi
 As the name suggests wireless connection does not use telephone lines or cables
to connect to the internet.
 The wireless connection uses a radio frequency band to connect to the internet.
It is also an always-on connection and this connection can be accessed from
anywhere and speed may vary for different locations.
 It ranges from 5Mbps to 20Mbps.

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5. Mobile Broadband
 Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access via mobile
networks. \Access to the network can be made through a portable
modem, wireless modem, or a tablet/smartphone (possibly tethered) or other
mobile device.
 The first wireless Internet access became available in 1991 as part of the second
generation (2G) of mobile phone technology.
 Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access delivered
through cellular towers to computers and other digital devices using portable
modems.
 Although broadband has a technical meaning, wireless-carrier marketing uses
the phrase "mobile broadband" as a synonym for mobile Internet access.
 Some mobile services allow more than one device to be connected to the
Internet using a single cellular connection using a process called tethering.

6. Mobile Hotspot
 A mobile hotspot (sometimes called a portable hotspot) is a hotspot that’s just
that—mobile! While a “regular” Wi-Fi hotspot is tied to a physical location, you
can create a mobile hotspot by using your smartphone’s data connection to
connect your laptop to the Internet. This process is called “tethering.”
 Hotspots utilize Wi-Fi technology, which allows electronic devices to connect to
the Internet or exchange data wirelessly through radio waves.
 Hotspots can be phone-based or free-standing, commercial or free to the
public.

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7. Cable Model Connection

 It is a form of broadband access cable modem that can provide extremely fast
access to the internet. The speed of this connection varies which can be different
for uploading data transmission or downloading.
 It uses a cable modem to provide an internet connection and operates over cable
TV lines. The speed of cable connection ranges from 512k to 20Mbps

1.2.2 Working of Internet

 Generally, two main components uphold the functionality of the Internet, they
are:
o Packets
o Protocols
 In networking, the data which is being transmitted through the internet is sent
via small segments which are later translated into bits and the packets get routed
to their endpoint (destination) through different networking devices i.e. routers
or switches. Later, once the packet arrives at the receiver’s end, that small chunks
of data get reassembled in order to utilize or check the data that he/she
requested. That’s why they are used to push ease in networking and large data

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can be easily sent by sending small units and this whole process of
sending/receiving small bits is known as Packet Switching.

 Connecting two computers with the help of any communication method and to
solve this, protocols were introduced. It is a standardized method of performing
certain tasks and data formatting so that two or more devices can communicate
with each other. However, if both systems are connected over the same network
i.e. Ethernet for receiving and sending packets from network to network i.e. IP
(Internet Protocol), and to ensure that those packets are arriving successfully in
the same order (TCP), and for formatting data over websites and apps (HTTP).
Besides this, there are several other protocols for testing, routing, and
encryption, and for streaming games/videos, rather than using TCP, we
use UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

 Firstly, you’ll be required to connect your system or PC with any router or modem
to establish a connection. This connection is the base of the connection.
 When you open the browser and start typing something like “www.google.com”,
your system will push a query command to your ISP (Internet Service Provider)
that is connected with other servers that store and process data.
 Now, the web browser will start indexing the URL that you’ve entered and will
fetch the details in numeric format (in their own language to identify the
address (unique) that you’re trying to reach.
 Next is, now your browser will start sending the HTTP request where you’re
trying to reach and sends a copy of the website on the user’s system. Note: The
server will send data in the form of small packets (from the website to the
browser)

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 Once all the data (of small packets) will be received at the user’s end (PC/Laptop),
the browser will start arranging all those small packets and later will form a
collective file (here, the browser will gather all the small packets and rearrange
them just like a puzzle) and then you’ll be able to see the contents of that website

1.2.3 Difference between Internet, Intranet, Extranet

Point of difference Internet Intranet Extranet

Accessibility of Public Private Private
network
Availability Global system Specific to an To share information
organization with suppliers and
vendors it makes the
use of public network
Coverage All over the world Restricted area upto Restricted area upto
an organization an organization and
some of its
stakeholders or so.
Accessibility of It is accessible to It is accessible only to Accessible only to the
content everyone connected the members of members of
organization organization and
external members
with logins.
No. of computers It is largest in number The minimal numbers The connected
connected of connected devices of devices are devices are more
connected comparable with
intranet
Owner No one Single organization Single/ multiple
organization

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Purpose of the It’s purpose is to It’s purpose is to It’s purpose is to

network share information share information share information
throughout the world throughout the between members
organization and external
members
Security It is dependent on It is enforced via It is enforced via
the user of the device firewall firewall that
connected to separates internet
network and extranet.
Users General public Employees of the Employees of the
organization organization which
are connected
Policies behind setup There is not hard and Policies of the Policies of the
fast rule for policies organization are organization are
imposed imposed
Maintenance It is maintained by ISP It is maintained by It is maintained by
CIO, HR or CIO, HR or
communication communication
department of an department of an
organization organization
Economical It is more economical It is less economical It is also less
to use economical
Relation It is the network of It is derived from It is derived from
networks internet intranet
Example What we are WIPRO using internal DELL and intel using
normally using is network for its network for its
internet business operations business operations

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