The Internet is a loose federation of networks. |
Cooperative organization - no administration, no fees. Protocols and standards are evolved through the IETF, Internet Engineering Task Force. |
Most national and international networks are members: NSFNET, ESNET, ARPANET, BITNET |
All these networks are packet switched systems based on TCP/IP. Together these protocols allow for communication over a wide variety of technologies. Machines called gateways connect the networks. |
Standard domain name system - names are looked up by name server to obtain routing information.
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From Introduction to the World Wide Web and Web Technologies presentation: Introduction to the www and Web Technologies -- Fall Semester 96. by Nancy McCracken-Foils prepared December 9 1996