History of Internet(I)

Summary

In this informative module led by Dr. Jeetendra Pande, students explore the fascinating history and evolution of the Internet, tracing its roots from the Cold War-era ARPANET to the development of the World Wide Web. Key topics include the advantages of packet switching networks, the role of internet browsers, IP addresses, and the essential function of DNS in connecting users to websites. The lecture highlights the Internet's rapid growth and its profound impact on daily life, emphasizing its significance as a collaborative, global network that facilitates information, education, and communication across diverse communities.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Internet's history began with ARPANET, designed to keep computers connected even if some nodes failed during the Cold War.
• 📡 The first message sent over ARPANET was 'LO', intended to be 'LOGIN', highlighting the network's initial limitations.
• 🔗 The development of protocols like TCP/IP allowed different networks to communicate, leading to the creation of the modern Internet.
• 🏫 By the late 1980s, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) emerged, facilitating commercial use of the Internet.
• 🌍 The World Wide Web was introduced by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991, transforming how information is accessed online.
• 📧 The Internet supports various services beyond the web, including email, messaging, and FTP.
• 🔍 DNS (Domain Name System) simplifies the use of the Internet by translating user-friendly domain names into IP addresses.
• 🗂️ An IP address is a unique identifier for devices on the Internet, structured in a 32-bit binary format divided into four octets.
• 🌐 Five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) manage IP address allocation globally to ensure organized distribution.
• 📈 The Internet is a collaborative network without a single owner, governed by organizations like The Internet Society, which establishes protocols and regulations.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of this module discussed by Dr. Jeetendra Pande?

The primary purpose of the module is to discuss the history and evolution of the Internet, helping learners understand its background, key components, and how it has transformed communication and access to information.

What was ARPANET and why was it created?

ARPANET, or Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, was created in the early 1960s by the United States Department of Defense as an experimental network designed to allow computers to communicate with each other even if some nodes were compromised or failed due to an attack.

What is packet switching, and who is credited with its independent discovery in the UK?

Packet switching is a method of grouping data transmitted over a digital network into packets, which are then sent individually. Donald Davies and his colleagues at the UK National Physical Laboratory independently discovered this concept in 1965.

What are the key functions of DNS in Internet communication?

DNS, or Domain Name System, translates human-readable domain names (like www.uou.ac.in) into IP addresses, facilitating the routing of data packets to the correct destination over the Internet.

How did the role of the Internet evolve after the introduction of the World Wide Web?

After the introduction of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991, the Internet transformed from being primarily a platform for file transfer to a comprehensive web of information that allows users to easily access and retrieve a vast array of data.

What is an IP address and what are its two main components?

An IP address is a unique identifier for a device on a network, consisting of a 32-bit binary number divided into four octets. The two main components of an IP address are the network part, which identifies the network itself, and the host part, which identifies a specific device within that network.

What are the different classes of IP addresses and their purpose?

IP addresses are classified into five classes (A, B, C, D, and E) based on the size and purpose of the network. Class A is for a small number of networks with a large number of hosts, Class C for many networks with a small number of hosts, Class D for multicast, and Class E for experimental purposes.

How does the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) contribute to IP address management?

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) allocates large blocks of IP addresses to five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), which are responsible for further distributing IP addresses within their respective regions.

What is the significance of the Domain Name System (DNS) cache?

The DNS cache stores recently visited domain name lookups, allowing faster resolution of IP addresses for frequently accessed sites without needing to go through the entire DNS resolution process again.

What international organization was formed to manage the Internet, and what are its functions?

The Internet Society, formed in 1992, is responsible for overseeing the development of Internet standards, policies, and regulations, ensuring the collaborative functioning of this global network.