Whether you have been using the Internet for a while or are just starting to get involved, you may be wondering what it is and how it works. There are a number of different topics you should be aware of, such as Web 1.0, TCP/IP, IPv6, and ARPANET.
TCP/IP
Several books have been written about the history of TCP/IP and the Internet. However, not many people realize that TCP/IP and the Internet are actually related.
TCP/IP is a data link protocol that provides bindings to connect all computers on a network. It also keeps track of all the data packets and sends them to the right destination. In addition, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is responsible for delivering the packets in the correct order.
The TCP/IP model is implemented in real time on network devices. It is an architecture that divides communications tasks into four layers. Each layer performs a different function. The TCP/IP model is a bit like the OSI Reference Model.
The Internet Protocol (IP) is a data transmission protocol that has been around since the early 1980s. The first version was written in September 1981. Unlike the TCP, the IP was not designed to be a stand-alone protocol. It was an adaptation of existing technologies. Its creators recognized that using the adapted protocols would cause problems as the network grew.
A newer version of the IP, known as IPv6, was developed to fill the void left by the IPv4 address space. The RFC 4443 about ICMPv6 was elevated to an Internet Standard (STD 89). The most recent specification, RFC 8200/STD 86, was released in late 1995.
The TCP/IP model is a complex system that consists of hundreds of protocols. A few of these protocols are considered to be the “main” protocols. Others are referred to as “ancillary” or “additional”.
One of the TCP/IP and Internet wonders is that it uses the same data format across different technologies. This is important because it eliminates the need to accommodate different message formats for different technology platforms.
ARPANET
Initially, the ARPANET Internet was a computer network used by researchers for academic projects. It was the first worldwide packet-switching based system, and it was a predecessor to the Internet we know today.
In the early 1970s, the US Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was interested in networking. Its aim was to create a network that would be survivable in case of an emergency, and also to make it easier for scientists to share data.
Before ARPAnet, the internet was largely voice-only. However, when the World Wide Web became popular in the 1990s, it accelerated the usage of the Internet. Its hyper-links allowed people to find information easily. In addition, it made it easier for scientists to communicate through email.
When it was finally launched, the Arpanet network linked researchers at various research institutions across the United States. These were chosen for their unique resources and technical ability to develop protocols.
One of the earliest mailing lists was SF-LOVERS. It was created by the students at the University of Indiana. In the first few months of use, it doubled in size. The @ symbol became a standard way to identify users. The first email reader was developed by Ray Tomlinson.
In addition, the first IMP was delivered by BBN, which built the interface message processor. It was a basic router that could handle the ARPANET network interface.
After the success of the original ARPANET, the Defense Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency transferred control of the network to DISA, a branch of the United States Department of Defense.
The network expanded, and it was now divided into two networks: MILnet, or the Military Network, and NSFnet, or the National Science Foundation Network.
World Wide Web
Developed by British physicist Tim Berners-Lee, the World Wide Web is a hypertext-based information system which allows users to access a range of different documents and information on the Internet. It is also the most widely used internet publishing format.
Before the development of the web, people had to visit different computer sites to share and exchange information. Typically, websites were dedicated to a particular topic or purpose. They may be available on a private network, a public IP network or via a public LAN.
The main components of the web are the HTTP data transfer protocol, uniform resource locators, and a hypertext markup language. These technologies are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They allow individuals to share information and publish content.
In March 1991, Tim Berners-Lee and his colleagues released a prototype of the web, called WWW. The first browser was released to a limited audience. In December 1994, Netscape Navigator became the most popular web browser.
The main function of a website is to provide access to various kinds of information, applications, and tools. It can also be used for e-commerce. Typical functions include the ability to search, browse, and purchase products or services. The site can also be used for point-and-click graphical manipulations.
In 1993, the European Commission approved the first web project. In October 1994, the Second International World Wide Web conference was held in the US. This conference was known as the “Woodstock of the Web.”
By the end of 1993, over 500 web servers had been identified. In January 1995, there were over 12,000 web servers. Most of the web traffic was file transfer, while the rest was remote access.
Web 1.0
Initially, the World Wide Web (WWW) was a big network, largely a nascent network of scientists and researchers, sharing information and data. The first websites were built with HTML markup and a few simple styles. The Web 1.0 era mainly involved static webpages, retrieved from servers.
One of the most significant aspects of the early web was the ability to retrieve real-time news. This was accomplished by connecting the Internet into the system using hyperlinks. The advent of email, as well as online banking, improved the accessibility of interactive applications.
There was no slick content or graphics like today’s websites. Most websites were built with just a few simple styles embedded in HTML markup.
The early Internet was a read-only network, primarily geared toward the dissemination of scientific knowledge. The simplest example of a site was a personal web page. These were usually static pages hosted on ISP-run web servers. They were not interactive, but were a useful tool for communicating with other people.
Some of the first websites were a collaboration of universities and research institutes. These included the European Center for Nuclear Research, which was the first website on the Internet.
The best of the Web 1.0 era is GeoCities, a rudimentary website with a few images and a few rudimentary text entries. These pages are still available online, and are archived in the Wayback machine.
The Web 1.0 era was characterized by a huge majority of content consumers and a tiny number of content producers. The Web 1.0 e-commerce store was a catalog, where visitors could buy and sell goods. The Web 1.0 e-commerce site might have an order button and an email address.
IPv6
Compared to IPv4, IPv6 provides a more flexible header structure and has been designed to handle the demands of demanding services on the Internet. It also introduces additional enhancements to improve multicasting and routing processes. In addition, IPv6 supports end-to-end security and can be used on both remote and local networks.
In IPv6, addresses are defined as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits. The first 64 bits are network bits and the other bits are host bits. Each interface has a self-generated link-local address. These interface identifiers are stable and were developed because of privacy concerns.
In addition to the basic header, IPv6 packets contain an optional payload. The payload includes Layer 4 headers, extension headers, and upper-layer data. The extension headers are Hop-by-Hop Options, Routing, Encapsulated Security Payload (ESP), Mobility, and Stateless Address Autoconfiguration.
Unlike the IPv4 address, the IPv6 address is globally unique. This means that every device on the Internet can be identified directly from any other device. This allows for more insights into user behavior and better multicasting and routing processes.
The IPv6 protocol has also been designed to deal with mobility. This is important in the rapidly growing market of mobile devices. This type of mobility requires robust access models. In addition, the address format is extended from 32-bit to 128-bit, which simplifies addressing.
One of the most significant security benefits of IPv6 is its vast addressing space. The IETF has allocated 1/8 of the total address space for current use. However, the remaining 7/8ths is still under allocation.
In addition, IPv6 can be used in a hierarchical fashion to address address allocation. This is achieved by using a special router renumbering protocol.
