A Practical Guide to Ubuntu Linux

Chapter 10. Networking and the Internet

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IN THIS CHAPTER

Types of Networks and How They Work	355
Network Protocols	361
Network Utilities	372
ping: Tests a Network Connection	375
traceroute: Traces a Route Over the Internet	376
host and dig: Query Internet Nameservers	378
Distributed Computing	379
Usenet	388
WWW: World Wide Web	390

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The communications facilities linking computers are continually improving, allowing faster and more economical connections. The earliest computers were unconnected stand-alone systems. To transfer information from one system to another, you had to store it in some form (usually magnetic tape, paper tape, or punch cards—called IBM or Hollerith cards), carry it to a compatible system, and read it back ...