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Questions and Answers
What defines the Internet according to the text?
What defines the Internet according to the text?
What is the main function of an Internet service provider (ISP) as discussed in the text?
What is the main function of an Internet service provider (ISP) as discussed in the text?
How does a cable modem function according to the text?
How does a cable modem function according to the text?
What technology uses regular copper phone lines to transfer digital data, as mentioned in the text?
What technology uses regular copper phone lines to transfer digital data, as mentioned in the text?
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What connection speed characterizes a broadband connection based on the information provided?
What connection speed characterizes a broadband connection based on the information provided?
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What is the primary role of a home phone modem according to the text?
What is the primary role of a home phone modem according to the text?
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What type of connection is a cable modem?
What type of connection is a cable modem?
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What is the main difference between download speed and upload speed for Internet connections?
What is the main difference between download speed and upload speed for Internet connections?
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How is information exchanged between a user's computer and a Web server?
How is information exchanged between a user's computer and a Web server?
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Which device determines the paths for information exchange over the Internet?
Which device determines the paths for information exchange over the Internet?
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In terms of addressing, how does a device specify which device it wants to send a message to?
In terms of addressing, how does a device specify which device it wants to send a message to?
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Which type of connection typically has speeds faster than 128 bits per second?
Which type of connection typically has speeds faster than 128 bits per second?
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What is the main difference between a hostname and an IP address?
What is the main difference between a hostname and an IP address?
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How do network classes differ in terms of the size of the network they designate?
How do network classes differ in terms of the size of the network they designate?
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Where does the host number come from in an IP address?
Where does the host number come from in an IP address?
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What is the significance of the first part of an IP address in terms of network classes?
What is the significance of the first part of an IP address in terms of network classes?
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How do Class B and Class C networks differ?
How do Class B and Class C networks differ?
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What is the key difference between a network address and a host number in an IP address?
What is the key difference between a network address and a host number in an IP address?
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Study Notes
Internet Basics
- The Internet is a wide-area network composed of many smaller networks, often owned and managed by individuals or organizations.
- The Internet is defined by how connections are made between these networks.
Internet Connections
- The Internet backbone is a set of high-speed networks that carry Internet traffic, provided by companies like AT&T, GTE, and IBM.
- An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that provides access to the Internet for other companies or individuals.
Connecting to the Internet
- There are various technologies to connect a home computer to the Internet, including:
- Phone modem: converts computer data into an analog audio signal for transfer over a telephone line.
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL): uses regular copper phone lines to transfer digital data.
- Cable modem: uses the same line that carries cable TV signals to transfer data.
Broadband Connections
- Broadband is a connection with transfer speeds faster than 128 bits per second.
- Examples of broadband connections include DSL connections and cable modems.
Network Addresses
- A hostname is a name made up of words separated by dots that uniquely identifies a computer on the Internet (e.g., www.mathcs.slu.edu).
- An IP address is a unique address made up of four one-byte numeric values separated by dots (e.g., 192.0.0.1).
IP Addresses
- An IP address is split into four bytes: network address, which specifies a specific network, and host number, which specifies a particular machine in that network.
- The first part of the IP address designates the network, and the number of bits in the network address depends on the size of the network.
Network Classes
- Class A network: designated by the first byte (very large; e.g., Apple has 17.x.x.x, MIT has 9.x.x.x).
- Class B network: designated by the first two bytes (moderate size; e.g., SLU has 165.134.x.x).
- Class C network: designated by the first three bytes (very small; e.g., Iowa Public Television iptv.org has 205.221.205.x).
How Information Travels Through the Internet
- When connecting to a website, there isn't a fixed connection between your computer and the web server.
- Information is exchanged using the best possible path at that particular time, determined by special computers called routers.
Addressing
- A device specifies precisely which device to send a message to by using IP addresses and hostnames.
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Description
Learn about the fundamental concepts of the Internet, including how smaller networks connect to form a wide-area network. Explore the role of Internet backbone providers and Internet service providers in facilitating connections between networks.