How does the INTERNET work? | ICT #2

Summary

This video script offers an insightful journey into the workings of the internet, explaining how data travels from a Google Data Center to a user's device. It clarifies why satellite communication isn't viable due to latency issues and instead highlights the crucial role of optical fiber cables in connecting data centers to devices. The script delves into the concept of IP addresses, the function of DNS as the internet's 'phone book,' and how data is packetized and routed efficiently across the globe. It also touches on the management of the internet by ICANN and the protocols that govern data packet transmission, providing a comprehensive overview of the internet's infrastructure and operations.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Internet's infrastructure involves data centers storing videos and other content, which are accessed through a network of optical fiber cables.
• 📶 Satellites are not commonly used for data transmission due to the high latency caused by the long distance signals must travel.
• 🌟 Optical fiber cables are the backbone of the Internet, providing a complex network that connects data centers to end devices.
• 🔢 IP addresses are unique identifiers for every device on the Internet, functioning like a home address for routing data.
• 🏠 Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns an IP address to your device, which can be found by the user.
• 🌐 Servers within data centers store websites and content, and have their own IP addresses for accessing the stored data.
• 🔖 Domain names like 'youtube.com' are easier to remember than IP addresses and are used to access websites via DNS, which translates domain names into IP addresses.
• 🌍 ICANN, an institution in the USA, manages global Internet resources such as IP address assignment and domain name registration.
• 📦 Data is transferred in digital format via optical fiber cables in the form of light pulses, which may travel long distances.
• 📈 The efficiency of the Internet comes from breaking data into small packets, which are transmitted and reassembled at the destination, allowing for the best routing paths.
• 🛑 Internet protocols set the rules for data packet management, including conversion, addressing, and routing, ensuring orderly data flow.

Q & A

How does a video stored in a Google Data Center reach my mobile phone?

A video stored in a Google Data Center reaches your mobile phone through a complex network of optical fiber cables rather than satellites, due to the significant delay and latency issues associated with satellite transmission.

Why are satellites not an ideal method for transmitting data from data centers to mobile devices?

Satellites are not ideal because they are located approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth's equator, causing data to travel a total distance of 44,000 miles and resulting in unacceptable latency for most internet applications.

What is the role of optical fiber cables in the internet infrastructure?

Optical fiber cables form a network that connects data centers to devices like mobile phones and laptops, allowing for the efficient transmission of data in the form of light pulses.

What is an SSD and how does it relate to the storage of videos in a data center?

An SSD, or Solid-State Drive, acts as the internal memory of a server within a data center. It is where videos and other content are stored before being served to users upon request.

What is the purpose of a server in a data center?

A server in a data center is a powerful computer designed to store and provide access to content, such as videos, when a user requests it.

Can you explain the concept of an IP address in the context of the internet?

An IP address is a unique string of numbers assigned to every device connected to the internet, serving as a 'shipping address' to ensure that information reaches its intended destination.

Why are domain names used instead of IP addresses?

Domain names like 'youtube.com' are used instead of IP addresses because they are easier for humans to remember and manage. They correspond to IP addresses, which are resolved through the Domain Name System (DNS).

What is the function of the Domain Name System (DNS)?

The DNS acts as a 'phone book' for the internet, translating human-friendly domain names into IP addresses that computers use to locate and access websites.

How is data transferred through optical fiber cables?

Data is transferred through optical fiber cables in digital format, specifically in the form of light pulses that travel potentially thousands of miles to reach their destination.

What is the role of a router in accessing the internet?

A router converts the light signals from optical fiber cables into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to devices such as laptops via Ethernet cables or to mobile phones via Wi-Fi.

How does the internet manage global tasks like IP address assignment and domain name registration?

These global tasks are managed by an institution called ICANN, which oversees IP address assignment, domain name registration, and other critical functions of the internet infrastructure.

What is the significance of data packets in the transmission of information over the internet?

Data packets are small chunks of data that contain bits of information along with sequence numbers and IP addresses. They are efficiently routed and reassembled at the destination, allowing for reliable data transmission even if some packets are lost or delayed.

What are protocols in the context of internet data transmission, and why are they important?

Protocols are the rules that govern the management of data packet flow, including data packet conversion, attachment of source and destination addresses, and the functioning of routers. They are essential for maintaining order and efficiency in internet communications.