1.

The Internet, sometimes called simply "the Net," is a worldwide system of computer networks - a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users at other computers). It was conceived by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. government in 1969 and was first known as the ARPANet. The original aim was to create a network that would allow users of a research computer at one university to be able to "talk to" research computers at other universities. A side benefit of ARPANet's design was that, because messages could be routed or rerouted in more than one direction, the network could continue to function even if parts of it were destroyed in the event of a military attack or other disaster. 2. A network is a group of two or more computer systems linked together. There are many types of computer networks, including: local-area networks (LANs) : The computers are geographically close together (that is, in the same building). wide-area networks (WANs) : The computers are farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves. campus-area networks (CANs): The computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base. metropolitan-area networks MANs): A data network designed for a town or city. home-area networks (HANs): A network contained within a user's home that connects a person's digital devices.

3. In the world of computers, networking is the practice of linking two or more

computing devices together for the purpose of sharing data. Networks are built with a mix of computer hardware and computer software.

4. NETWORK GOALS:

The main goal of networking is "Resource sharing", and it is to make all programs, data and equipment available to anyone on the network without the regard to the physical location of the resource and the user. A second goal is to provide high reliability by having alternative sources of supply. For example, all files could be replicated on two or three machines, so if one of them is unavailable, the other copies could be available. Another goal is saving money. Small computers have a much better price/performance ratio than larger ones. Mainframes are roughly a factor of ten times faster than the fastest single chip microprocessors, but they cost thousand times more. This imbalance has caused many system designers to build systems consisting of powerful personal computers, one per user, with data kept on one or more shared file server machines. This goal leads to networks with many computers located in the same building. Such a network is called a LAN(local area network).

Another closely related goal is to increase the systems performance as the work load increases by just adding more processors. With central mainframes, when the system is full, it must be replaced by a larger one, usually at great expense and with even greater disruption to the users. Computer networks provide a powerful communication medium. A file that was updated/modified on a network can be seen by the other users on the network immediately.

5. Networks classification
Network Hardware

There are two type of transmission technology:

broadcast, point-to-point (peer-to-peer).

Broadcast networks have a single communication channel that is shared by all the machines on the network. Short messages, called packets in certain contexts, sent by any machine are received by all the other. An address field with the packet specifies for whom it is intended. Upon receiving a packet is intended for itself, it processes the packet; if the packet is intended for some other machine, it is just ignore. As an analogy, consider someone standing at the end of a corridor with many rooms off it and shouting . Although the packet may actually be received (heard) by many people, only Watson responds. The other just ignore it. Another example is an airport announcement asking all flight 444 passengers to report to gate 10. Broadcast systems generally also allow the possibility of addressing a packet to all destinations by using a special code in the address field. When a packet with his code is transmitted, it is received and processed by every machine on the network. This mode of operation is called broadcasting. Some broadcast system also support transmission to a subset of the machines, something known as multicasting. one possible scheme is to reserve on e bit to indicate multicasting. the remaining n-1 address bits hold a group number. Each machine can "subscribe" to any or all the the groups. When a packet is sent to a certain group, it is delivered to all machines subscribing to that group. On the other hand, point-to-point (peer-to-peer) networks consist of many connections between individual pairs of machines. To go fro the source to the

destination, a packet on this type of network may have to first visit one or more intermediate machines. Often multiple routes, of different lengths are possible, so routing algorithms play an important role in point-to-point networks. As a general rule (although there are many exception), smaller, geographically localized networks tend to use broadcasting, whereas larger networks usually are point-to-point Ref: computer networks, Third edition Prentice-Hall published in New Delhi,1996,by Andrew s. Tanenbaum, pp..7,8

Local Area Networks (LAN)

a) Top Local Are Networks (LANs) : These connect over a relatively small geographical are, typically connecting computers within a single office or building. In most cases they connect to a common electronic connection- commonly known as a network backbone. LAN's can connect to other networks either directly or through a WAN or MAN. Ref: Distributed systems and Networks, The McGraw-Hill companies, William Buchanan published 2000, pp..189,

b) A computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most LANs are confined to a single building or group of buildings. However, one LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves. Most LANs connect workstations and personal computers. Each node (individual computer ) in a LAN has its own CPU with which it executes programs, but it also is able to access data and devicesanywhere on the LAN. This means that many users can share expensive devices, such as laser printers, as well as data. Users can also use the LAN to communicate with each other, by sending e-mail or engaging in chatsessions. Ref: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/l/local_area_network_LAN.html

for more information : Ref: http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm?term=lan

Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)

a) Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN's): These connect networks around a town or city. it is smaller than a WAN, but larger4 than a LAN. An example of a Man is the EaStMAN (Edinburgh and Stirling MAN) network that connects universities and colleges in Edinburgh and Stirling, UK. Ref: Distributed systems and Networks, The McGraw-Hill companies, William Buchanan published 2000, pp..189, b) Short for Metropolitan Area Network, a data network designed for a town or city. In terms of geographic breadth, MANs are larger than local-area networks (LANs), but smaller than wide-area networks (WANs). MANs are usually characterized by very high-speed connections using fiber optical cable or other digital media. Ref: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/MAN.html

Wide Area Networks (WAN)

Top

a) Wide Area Networks( WANs) : These connect networks over a large geographical area, such as between different buildings, towns or even countries. Ref: Distributed systems and Networks, The McGraw-Hill companies, William Buchanan published 2000, pp..189, b) A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically dispersed telecommunications network. The term distinguishes a broader telecommunication

structure from a local area network (). A wide area network may be privately owned or rented, but the term usually connotes the inclusion of public (shared user) networks. Ref: http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci214117,00.html
6. So who actually owns the Internet? There are two answers to this question: 1. Nobody 2. Lots of people If you think of the Internet as a unified, single entity, then no one owns it. There are organizations that determine the Internet's structure and how it works, but they don't have any ownership over the Internet itself. No government can lay claim to owning the Internet, nor can any company. The Internet is like the telephone system -- no one owns the whole thing. From another point of view, thousands of people and organizations own the Internet. The Internet consists of lots of different bits and pieces, each of which has an owner. Some of these owners can control the quality and level of access you have to the Internet. They might not own the entire system, but they can impact your Internet experience.

7. Services available in the internet ,You can:

Fax: You can use easily send and receive faxes using your Internet connection using an online fax service. Call: You can call and receive calls over the Internet through a system called Virtual PBX. Search: You can look up anything you want to know using search engines like google.com, etc Browse: You can use web browsers, like Firefox or Internet Explorer, to help you navigate the Internet. Chances are if you're reading this, you already have a browser installed. Market: Email marketing is huge now, and if you want to start promoting your business with regular emails and newsletters to clients and potential clients.

8. The term WWW refers to the World Wide Web or simply the Web. The
World Wide Web consists of all the public Web sites connected to the Internet worldwide, including the client devices (such as computers and cell phones) that access Web content. The WWW is just one of many applications of the Internet and computer networks.

9. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and an example is http://www.Wiki.answers.com

10. Netiquette (short for "network etiquette" or "Internet etiquette") is a set of social conventions that facilitate interaction over networks, ranging from Usenet and mailing lists to blogs and forums.

11. How to be a responsible internet user? that's a big question for us using internet, and bigger for those people whose life is internet.a responsible internet user is a person with discipline, and conscience of what he\she is posting on the world wide web. For us it's easy to say that we are a responsible internet user, only if we posted pictures,videos,articles,games,profiles,or anything under the sun which we admit to ourselves that it is wholesome, that if readers, viewers, or whoever they are, can be educated and be entertained. Because anything you posted in the internet that will hurt others reputation, might hurt their feelings, personal opinions, and it might get worse, everyone in this world might create war for what you have done. Have conscience, have discipline, use brain and be a responsible internet user. happy browsing!!!!!! Internet,was develop for the sake of the people who negotiate with their clients abroad or to talk about their businesses with ease.Having an Internet connection lets you talk with the world. It fits all!You can browse any websites you want , and get the information you need. But the issue now, is the abuse in using the Internet. They use this, as their way for letting people down, from the top of his/her achievements going to the worst part of their lives....Somehow, we must know our limitations. We must learn how to manage our selves. Control your self and do not let attractions and greediness control you.Be responsible to your self and be responsible in using the Internet by respecting the rights of every human,of all living things. Apply your knowledge in doing good, to prove that you are truly blessed with knowledge. You know why? Its because,nothing is responsible to do your responsibilities, except you....

What are the things needed to establish an internet connection?

12. - Call an ISP(internet service provider) - if you already have cable or phone it would be easiest to call them. - Tell them you want high speed internet. Don't get anything less than 4Mbit. - Whatever type you get cable/dsl...buy the modem. The ones they give you are trash most of the time. - Most ISP's will come to your house and set up the connection for you, but if not you will need an ethernet/usb cable..preferably ethernet. - And a computer

13. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines a web browser as a computer program used for accessing sites or information on a network (as the World Wide Web). This is a simple, yet accurate description. Web browsers come in many different styles,

each with their own nuances. However, the main reason a person utilizes a web browser is to view web pages on the Internet, similar to the way you are viewing this article right now. Examples: AOL Explorer
* Avant Browser * Bento Browser (built into Winamp) * Enigma * GreenBrowser * Internet Explorer * iRider * Maxthon * MediaBrowser * MenuBox * MSN Explorer * NeoPlanet * NetCaptor * RealPlayer * SlimBrowser * Tencent Traveler * TomeRaider * TheWorld Browser * UltraBrowser * WebbIE

14. Search engines are programs that search documents for specified keywordsand returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found. A search engine is really a general class of programs, however, the term is often used to specifically describe systems like Google, Bing and Yahoo! Search that enable users to search for documents on the World Wide Web.
Example-There are many search engines you can use to index your site, and allow your readers to search your site. I tested out several of them in my article, Searching Your Site. On this page you can see these engines in action across the Web Design / HTML @ About.com site.

15. Parts and functions of the web browsers:

1. Menu These menus will allow you to perform various tasks, such as Print, save a Favorite web page, and set your internet options. 2. Function Icons Buttons that allow you to quickly performs tasks, such as print, refresh your

web page, go back to the last page viewed, or go forward to the next page viewed. 3. Minimize, Maximize, Close buttons Allow you to make your Browser smaller, larger, or close your browser completely. 4. Web Address area Type the web site address (or name) in this box to go to that web site page and click go or hit the enter key on your keyboard. Ex. www.act.org/discover/login 5. Search Engine A large database containing information on millions of web sites, which allows you to enter keywords to locate a site that offers the product or service that you seek. 6. Keyword Search area Type keywords to describe the type of information that you want to find. 7. Start Menu This menu will help you open various computer software programs that you want to use, such as Microsoft Word, or Internet Explorer. 8. Task Bar This lists all the programs that you currently have open. Click on one of the icons to maximize a particular program on your screen to continue working in that program.