Chapter1.Developing the Internet s Technologies

Chapter 1. Developing the Internet's Technologies

To many technical personnel today, the Internet remains a mystery that is taken for granted. Virtually everybody knows what it is and what it can be used for, but few actually know what goes on behind the scenes. The Internet's address space and native protocols have become the de facto standard for many aspects of networking. The Internet Protocol (IP) address space and the various IP-based protocols and mechanisms have been widely deployed around the world. Currently they support more networks than just the Internet. More importantly, these technologies and concepts share a similar origin: Typically, they are developed and ratified in an open and consensus-based forum.

It is this consensus-based approach to developing technologies that creates such confusion among newcomers to the Internet. Worse, the confusion extends beyond the Internet and encompasses all its component technologies, including the IP address space. Understanding any of these technologies requires an appreciation of the context in which it was developed, and a sense of what it was originally intended to do.

This chapter explores how technologies are ratified for use in the Internet. It also looks at the various standards bodies and other organizations that are the Internet's caretakers. This will help you better appreciate what does and does not carry the weight of law on the Internet.