All About the Internet

The Internet overview

Forty years ago:
The Internet had just a few thousand users
Almost all were experts in computing and networking
That's logical – the point was to learn how to build and use networks

The Internet today:
Is in the same stage as personal computing in the late 80s – breaking into the mainstream of life
Millions of users with thousands more being added every day
People don't care how the network works – they just want it to work
It's easy to use because of a feedback loop
Hard to use at first, but users try to make it easier
As it becomes easier, users demand more ease
Critical mass is attained, and it becomes profitable to make it easier to use

What is the Internet?

The Internet was born about 40 years ago:
Defense Department founded Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in 1958
The Cold War was very hot
To survive a nuclear first strike, we needed to decentralize data and systems control
ARPANET was developed in the late 60s
Went into operation in 1969
Used the first modems
Used the public switched phone network
Used packet switching
Linked research institutions

A public networking demonstration in 1972:
Created tremendous interest among computer pros
Hundreds of organizations and educational institutions linked to ARPANET 
ARPANET – international in 1973 – England & Norway
Early 80s – ARPANET protocols couldn't meet the demands of the growing network
Internet Protocol (IP) (1981) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) (1983) were created to replace ARPANET protocols
Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) were created as part of the TCP/IP suite of protocols

Other developments:
LANs were becoming common in the mid-80s
Early desktop workstations were equipped with UNIX, which included IP networking software
Corporations and large organizations built private networks using IP and similar protocols
Benefits of inter-connectivity soon became obvious
The National Science Foundation (NSF) founded NSFNET in 1985
During the late 80s, NSFNET established
Five supercomputing centers connected to:
Over 2500 colleges and universities around the world daisy-chained together to avoid paying for dedicated lines
Allowed many thousands of people "free" access to the net
The NSFNET was overwhelmed very shortly
A commercial contract to upgrade lines/computers was given to MCI, IBM, and Merit Network, beginning the privatization of the Internet
The NSFNET was officially retired in 1995

Who governs the Internet?

There is no centralized management
Thousands of networks are built, operated, and paid for separately
A variety of groups guide and set standards:
Internet Society (ISOC) – founded in 1992 – private, nonprofit group that oversees the Internet
Internet Activities Board (IAB) – founded in 1983 – serves as technology advisory group to ISOC, sets policy and makes decisions on architecture
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) – founded in 1986 – sets technical standards for the Internet, primarily for TCP/IP
Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) – founded in 1986 – dozens of working groups on network-related topics
Network Solutions, Inc. once had a government-sanctioned monopoly on domain registration – InterNIC, Inc.
Now, over 100 private companies oversee domain registration through an organization called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
The seven new ones: .info (2000), .biz (2000), .name (2002), .pro (2002), .museum (2001), .coop (2002), .aero (2002)
Other new ones: .jobs (.2005),  .mobi (2006), .tel (2006), .travel (2005)
Not chosen (for now): .xxx, but it was close

Each part of the network pays for itself:
Even if it seems free to you at UK, it's not
Your tuition helps to pay for UK's access
Colleges and universities pay regional networks
Regional networks pay national providers
Many users take advantage of corporate and government access
Average citizens pay commercial providers