2.2 INTERNET

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In October 1995, the U.S. Federal Networking Council (FNC) unanimously passed a resolution defining the term Internet.^[4] According to this resolution, the term refers to the global information system that:

Is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on IP or its subsequent extensions or follow-ons;
Is able to support communications using the TCP/IP protocol suite or its subsequent extensions, follow-ons, and other IP-compatible protocols;
Provides, uses, or makes accessible, either publicly or privately, high-level services layered on the communications and related infrastructure.

As this definition is neither sufficiently simple nor very precise, we are not going to use it in this book. Instead, we use the term Internet to refer to the global internet(work) based on the TCP/IP communications protocol suite, and the term intranet to refer to a TCP/IP-based corporate or enterprise network. We have already discussed in the preface that the Internet is seen as the basis and first incarnation of an information superhighway, NII, or GII as promoted, for example, by the U.S. government. We have also seen that virtually everyone on the Internet is vulnerable, and that the Internet's security problems are the center of attention, generating much fear throughout both the computer and the communication industries.

As mentioned, packet switching works by dividing messages to be sent over the network into discrete parts, each of which is called a packet. Each packet is routed from one computer to the next across the network until it reaches its final destination. Dedicated computers, called routers, are used to route the packets through the network. Routers are connected to each other by physical data connections that are also called links. Each networked computer is called a host. A host is connected to a network in the same way as a router. The main difference between a host and a router is that a host usually has a single link to one network, whereas a router may have several links typically to more than one network (i.e., it routes packets between these networks).

The Internet is heavily supported by the research community that elaborates on data networks. Consequently, the Internet also provides a testbed and experimental environment for upcoming and leading-edge network technologies and applications. For example, the Internet2 consortium provides a platform for the development of the next generation Internet. In fact, the Internet2 consortium is being led by more than 180 universities working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. According to the Internet2 consortium's home page,^[5] the primary goals of Internet2 are to:

Create a leading-edge network capability for the national research community;
Enable revolutionary Internet applications;
Ensure the rapid transfer of new network services and applications to the broader Internet community.

Refer to the Internet2 consortium's home page to find more information about the Internet2 consortium and its current work.

^[4]http://www.fnc.gov/Internet_res.html

^[5]http://www.internet2.org

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