Understanding the Internet: A Clear Guide to Internet Technologies

Book description

The Internet continues to grow at a very rapid rate. Together with this growth there is an accompanying growth of the technologies on which it is based. These technologies make use of TCP/IP as their foundation. To start to make sense of all these interrelated systems it is important that today's computer user be aware of the technologies on which the Internet is based.



This book introduces those technologies and is aimed at the Internet user who wishes to understand the technologies on which much of today's business and recreational computing is based. As such, the intention of this book is to give a succinct overview of 'how it all works' rather than provide a comprehensive reference work.

This book will help you quickly obtain an understanding of the technological principles behind the Internet/communications revolution in both your working and recreational lives, and:

· provides a thorough understanding of intranets, extranets and the Internet
· explains all about:
how e-mail delivers mail
the domain name service
how the Internet finds computers
the problems facing network designers
the basics of computer security issues
some new technologies such as WAP, Bluetooth, UMTS and NAPSTER

· Shows you how your office or home network really works.

Keith Sutherland is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer specialising in TCP/IP, IIS and SQL server. For the last 25 years he has been an independent consultant and lecturer working throughout the IT industry. As a result he has trained many thousands of industrial and commercial staff over that period. Currently he divides his time between lecturing, consultancy and research work. His client list includes many Blue-Chip companies together with government and international organisations.


Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. About the Author
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Contents
  7. Acknowledgements
  8. Why write this book?
  9. Chapter 1 TCP/IP, The Internet, Intranets and Extranets
    1. A Short History of the Internet
    2. TCP/IP
    3. Intranets
    4. Extranets
  10. Chapter 2 Names, Addresses and Name Resolution
    1. Why do Computers Need Names?
    2. Summary
    3. Name Resolution
  11. Chapter 3 DNS (Domain Name System)
    1. Computer Names
    2. Structured Names
    3. Flexible Names
    4. The Lower-level Domains
  12. Chapter 4 WINS (Windows Internet Naming System)
    1. More Computer Names
    2. Expanding the Business
  13. Chapter 5 FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
    1. Moving Data Around the World
    2. Modern Implementations
  14. Chapter 6 The World Wide Web
    1. Flexible Documents
    2. Joining Documents
    3. URLs
  15. Chapter 7 Electronic Mail (e-mail)
    1. Instant Communication?
    2. Flexible Mail
    3. Post Offices
  16. Chapter 8 DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
    1. Automatic Configuration
  17. Chapter 9 Index Server and Proxy Server
    1. Index Server
    2. Proxy Server
    3. Additional Benefits
    4. Other Proxy Servers
  18. Chapter 10 SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
    1. The Need for Network Management
  19. Chapter 11 Security, Secrets and Electronic Commerce (e-commerce)
    1. The Need for Security
    2. Protecting our Data
    3. Virtual Private Networks
    4. Public–Private Keys
    5. Other Solutions
  20. Chapter 12 Putting it all Together
    1. Scenario 1: Browsing the Internet
    2. Scenario 2: The Corporate Intranet
    3. Scenario 3: The Corporate Intranet Connected to the Internet
    4. Scenario 4: Individual e-mail
    5. Scenario 5: Electronic Banking
  21. Chapter 13 Establishing your Domain Name and Web Presence
    1. Why do I Need to Register?
    2. What Exactly is a Search Engine?
  22. Chapter 14 The Future of IP
    1. IP V6
    2. Multicast IP
    3. Voice and Video Over IP
    4. Mobile IP
    5. ADSL and Other Technologies
    6. Napster
  23. Chapter 15 WAP, UMTS and Bluetooth
    1. The Future
    2. New Markup Languages
    3. New Mobile Telephone Systems
    4. Wireless Networks in the Home and Office
  24. Appendix A The Physical Structure of the Internet
  25. Appendix B Some Useful URLs
  26. Glossary
  27. Index

Product information

  • Title: Understanding the Internet: A Clear Guide to Internet Technologies
  • Author(s): Keith Sutherland
  • Release date: June 2007
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136351105