1. What is the internet

2. a network of networks based on the TCP/IP protocols, a network of networks based on the TCP/IP protocols, * a community of people who use and develop those networks, * a community of people who use and develop those networks, * a collection of resources that can be reached from those networks. * a collection of resources that can be reached from those networks.

3. The internet began as an experiment 20 years ago by the U.S. Department of Defense. The internet began as an experiment 20 years ago by the U.S. Department of Defense. The ARPAnet was an experimental network designed to support military research--in particular, research about how to build networks that could withstand partial outages (like bomb attacks) and still function. The ARPAnet was an experimental network designed to support military research--in particular, research about how to build networks that could withstand partial outages (like bomb attacks) and still function.

4. The network was designed for a computer to put its data in an envelope, called an Internet Protocol (IP) packet, and "address" the packets correctly. The network was designed for a computer to put its data in an envelope, called an Internet Protocol (IP) packet, and "address" the packets correctly. The communicating computers--not the network itself--were also given the responsibility to ensure that the communication was accomplished. The communicating computers--not the network itself--were also given the responsibility to ensure that the communication was accomplished.

5. Ethernet local area networks ("LANs") were developed around 1983. Ethernet local area networks ("LANs") were developed around 1983. These workstations came with Berkeley UNIX, which included IP networking software creating a demand for the network. These workstations came with Berkeley UNIX, which included IP networking software creating a demand for the network.

6. Central Hubs NSF build its own network, based on the ARPAnet's IP technology. NSF build its own network, based on the ARPAnet's IP technology. 5 super computer centers connected with 56,000 bit per second (56k bps) telephone lines. (This is roughly the ability to transfer two full typewritten pages per second. 5 super computer centers connected with 56,000 bit per second (56k bps) telephone lines. (This is roughly the ability to transfer two full typewritten pages per second. Because you pay telephone lines by the mile each university was connected to a regional network with a supercomputer, and each super computer connected together. Because you pay telephone lines by the mile each university was connected to a regional network with a supercomputer, and each super computer connected together. With this configuration, any computer could communicate with any other by forwarding the conversation through its neighbors. With this configuration, any computer could communicate with any other by forwarding the conversation through its neighbors.

7. Who Governs the Internet? The ultimate authority is the Internet Society, or ISOC. The ultimate authority is the Internet Society, or ISOC. ISOC is a voluntary membership organization whose purpose is to promote global information exchange through Internet technology. ISOC is a voluntary membership organization whose purpose is to promote global information exchange through Internet technology.

8. Who Pays for It? No one pays for "it"; there is no Internet, Inc. that collects fees from all Internet networks or users. No one pays for "it"; there is no Internet, Inc. that collects fees from all Internet networks or users. Everyone pays for their part. Everyone pays for their part. The NSF pays for NSFNET. The NSF pays for NSFNET. NASA pays for the NASA Science Internet. NASA pays for the NASA Science Internet. Networks get together and decide how to connect themselves together and fund these interconnections. Networks get together and decide how to connect themselves together and fund these interconnections.

9. A college or corporation pays for their connection to some regional network, which in turn pays a national provider for its access. A college or corporation pays for their connection to some regional network, which in turn pays a national provider for its access. NMSU and service providers have DSO lines to the internet NMSU and service providers have DSO lines to the internet DS0 - 64 kilobits per second is a phone company fiber optic line that caries data DS0 - 64 kilobits per second is a phone company fiber optic line that caries data

10. The local area network using radio link run as 48 mpbs at 32 bits The local area network using radio link run as 48 mpbs at 32 bits 672 local area lines per DS0 line. 672 local area lines per DS0 line. Current servers can run 64 bit packets but windows xp is a 32 bit machine. Current servers can run 64 bit packets but windows xp is a 32 bit machine. Phone companies would like to charge by bitts transmitted instead of a fixed cost. Phone companies would like to charge by bitts transmitted instead of a fixed cost. This is being resisted by the scientific and private users. This is being resisted by the scientific and private users.

11. Source of information http://www.nmia.com/docs/what_is_the_i nternet.txt http://www.nmia.com/docs/what_is_the_i nternet.txt