Networked Graphics

Chapter 3. Overview of the Internet

Introduction

In this chapter we explain the basic functioning of the Internet. We will use the example of the boid simulation, from the previous chapter, to discover what happens when messages are sent between two hosts. The structure of this chapter introduces the layers of the Internet in turn, from application level down to link and physical layers. We also discuss two cross-cutting issues that are particularly relevant to NVEs and NGs: multicast and quality of service (QoS). This chapter essentially corresponds to a network primer, which sets out many of the definitions for the remaining chapters, but if you are familiar with how Internet works, you might skip to Chapter 4.

Part III will contain several analyses ...