Learning Objectives

After successfully completing this section, you should be able to

1. explain what computer networks are.
2. describe the Internet and the World Wide Web.
3. show how computer networks, the Internet, and the Web are related.

Learning Tasks

Required:

1. Watch the slideshow prepared for this section.
2. Study the following sections of the textbook:

Suggested:

1. Read “A Little History of the World Wide Web” found on the WWW Consortium site and “Brief History of the Internet” on the Internet Society site.
2. Write an HTML document containing a list of networking terms and definitions. Try to include as many terms as you can find from the textbook or online sources. For information on basic HTML, see the W3Schools’ HTML Tutorial.
3. If possible, visit an organization that has a Local or Wide Area Network. List the devices or components of the network(s) and describe the operating systems and other software used.
4. Visit the Internet Engineering Task Force and World Wide Web Consortium sites to gain an understanding of the roles and activities of these groups.
5. Read Section 1.6, Networks Under Attack, in the text, although network security is not covered by the course.

Terms and Topics

Leading Questions

1. What is a computer network? When, where, and by whom was the first computer network invented?
2. What are the different types of computer networks? How are they classified? Describe the distinctions among them.
3. How many layers are there in the ISO network model? What are they? What does each layer do?
4. How many layers are there in the Internet protocol stack?
5. What is circuit switching, packet switching, message switching, multiplexing, and routing respectively? What are the differences between circuit, packet, and message switching?
6. What kinds of delays may occur in a computer network? How can each delay be calculated?
7. How are homes, institutions, and mobile users connected to the Internet? What components are needed to set up Internet connections?
8. What devices are needed to build a simple computer network?
9. What is the hierarchy of Internet Service Providers (ISPs)? Describe each of the following: NAP, regional ISP, local ISP, and end users.
10. In the context of computer networking, what are clients and what are servers? What is a connection-oriented service? What is a connectionless service?
11. What organization is responsible for computer networking standards? What standards are in place?
12. What organization is responsible for Internet standards? What standards are being used today?
13. What organization is responsible for World Wide Web standards? What standards are being used today?
14. What are IP addresses? How are IP addresses classified? What are the classes of computer networks? What IP addresses are reserved, and for what purposes?
15. What are non-routable IP Addresses, domain names, and host names?
16. How are host names mapped to IP addresses? What is DNS, and how does it work?
17. What are firewalls and proxy servers, and why do we need them?