VDC/BCA/BCOM-SEM-1 VIVEKANANDA DEGREE COLLEGE-NELLORE

Introduction to Internet

Definition of Internet:
 The Internet is a global Network, which connects millions of computers all over
the world.
 It is an Information Super Highway, and network of networks.
 Each computer on the internet is called as a Host.
 To connect to the Internet, the user must gain access through an Internet
Service Provider (ISP).
 With the help of Internet, we can send or receive any kind of information such as
text, graphics, audio, and video etc.,
History of Internet:
 In the early 1960’s American defense department developed a Network for
information exchange.
 In 1969, the ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) of American defense
department researchers developed ARPA NET.
 The basic purpose of ARPANET was to provide communication among various
bodies of government.
 In 1972, the E-mail used to send and receive messages over the Internet. It
includes two tools. They are FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and TELNET (or) Remote
Login.
 In 1979, a group of students and Programmers started Usenet (Users News
Network). The Usenet provides NEWS through network.
 In 1980’s Companies used computers to construct their own internal networks.
 In 1983, the protocol TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) was
developed.
 In 1991, the NSF (National Science Foundation) implemented privatization of
Internet using Network Access Points (NAPs).

Advantages of Internet

The following are the various services provided by the Internet.

1. E-Mail
2. FTP
3. Chatting
4. Internet Conferencing
5. www
6. Online Shopping
7. Search Engine

1. E-Mail:

 E-mail also called as Electronic mail.

 It is used to send or receive messages electronically over the network.

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 E-Mail is one of the main services on the Internet.

 The e-mail service has replaced the postal service.
 Anyone who has an e-mail account can send an e-mail to any other person, who
also has an e-mail account.
 The structure of E-mail is: username @ domain name.
Ex: vinay @gmail.com

2. FTP:

 FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is one of the oldest applications of the Internet.
 It is basically used for transferring files from one computer (PC) to another.
 It provides security to the stored data.
 It transfers data reliably and efficiently.

3. Chatting:

 Chatting is very popular service of the Internet.

 It allows the users to communicate with each other in online.
 To chat with users on the Internet, every user must have an account with a
username and password to enter website.
 Chatting involves the exchange of typed-in messages between a group of users
who are online.

4. Internet Conferencing:

 Conferencing means connecting parties in Online.

 This is used to arrange conferences between government offices, universities,
family members etc.
 In this conferencing, the participants will sit at their offices, and connected to
each other through the Internet.
 It is a virtual meeting between different people.

5. WWW:

 The definition of www is World Wide Web. It was created by Tim Berners-Lee
in 1989.
 All the internet documents are developed with the help of HTML (Hyper Text
Markup Language).
 It supports to link documents, graphics, audio and video files.
 The www is a part of the internet that allows easy navigation between different
web addresses.

6. Online Shopping:

 In Online shopping, the user can buy or sell the goods on the Internet.
 In Internet, the E-commerce websites are available 24X7 and 365 days.
 The online shopping provides variety of products in a low cost.
 It provides cost-cutting and save the time.

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7. Search Engine:

 The World Wide Web stores large amount of information on different topics.
 A special website called “search engine”, It helps the user to search the
information.
 The most popular search engines are Google, MSN, and Yahoo etc.

Applications of Internet

The internet has a large number of uses. Some of them are

1. Communication: It is used for sending and receiving messages from one and other
through internet by using E-mail.

Ex: yahoomail.com, gmail.com etc.

2. Job searches: Getting information about availability of job in different areas. You
can publish your resume in online for job purpose.

Ex: naukri.com, monster.com etc.

3. Finding books and study material: Books and other study material stored
around the world can be easily found through internet.

4. Health and medicine: Internet provides information and knowledge about field of
health and medicine. People can have information about various diseases and
receive help.

5. Travel: By using internet, we can gather information about various tourist places. It
is also used for booking hotels, train, bus, flight tickets.

Ex: rajtravel.com, redbus.com

6. Entertainment: we can download jokes, songs, movies, and latest sports updates
through internet.

Ex: movies.com, espn.com

7. Shopping: Internet is also used for online shopping. By just giving account details,
you can perform the transaction. You can also pay your bills and perform bank
related transactions.

8. Stock market updates: You can sell or buy shares while sitting on the computer
through internet.

Ex: ndtvprofit.com, moneypore.com

9. Research: A large number of people are using internet for research purpose. You
can download any kind of information by using internet.

10. Business: Internet are used in different business areas. Such as information about
the product, market information etc.

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E-Mail

 E-mail also called as Electronic mail.

 It is used to send or receive messages electronically over the network.
 E-Mail is one of the main services on the Internet.
 Anyone who has an e-mail account can send an e-mail to any other person, who
also has an e-mail account.
Advantages of E-Mail:
1) Convenience:Sending a memo or short note is very easy using E-mail. No need to
go to the post office and no need to search for stationary and stamps.
2) Speed: E-mail is fast, based on the speed of the network (INTENET).
3) Inexpensive: Once we are on-line, cost of sending a message is very small.
4) Printable:A hard copy is easy to obtain.
5) Reliable:Sometimes messages are occasionally lost this is rare. Many mail systems
will notify the sender if an E-mail message was undeliverable.
6) Global: All over the world many people and businesses are using E-mail.
7) Generality: E-mails are not limited to text.It allows the transfer of graphics,
programs and sounds.
Disadvantages of E-Mail:
1) Misdirection: Sometimes there is a chance of sending an e-mail message to an
unknown recipient, and this cannot be identified by e-mail service.
2) Interception:It is possible that someone catches our messages and forwards them
to some other persons.
3) Forgery:E-mail does not stop forgeries i.e. someone impersonating the sender by

knowing username and password of the sender.

4) Overload: E-mail is too convenient and results in a flood of mail.

5) Junk: Sometimes we may get mails from unknown sender to our inbox. These mails
are called Junk mails or Spam.
6) No response:Sometimes E-mail gives frustration to the users, because some of the
recipients do not read and respond to their e-mail on a regular basis.

Network

A network is a collection of computers and devices that are linked to share

resources. In networking, computers are linked through wire or wireless technology.
Computers on a network are called “Nodes”.
Advantages:The following are the various advantages.

1. Sharing files
2. Sharing resources
3. Increased storage capacity
4. Sharing load
5. Communication facility

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1. Sharing files:

 The main advantage of a computer network is, sharing of files between

connected computers.
 The user can easily access files from other work stations. This save the time and
storage space.

2. Sharing resources:

 The computer network provides the user to share resources among a number of
computers.
 For example, in a computer lab, there may be 30 computers and one printer is
available.
 With the help of network in computer lab, every computer can share the printer.

3. Increased storage capacity:

 Files stored on one computer can easily accessed by another computer.

 A computer may have limited storage capacity.
 But several computers are connected together, storage memory of all the
computers available to each other.

4. Sharing load:

 If one computer is designed to carry all the jobs, then the computer will slow
down to complete all the jobs.
 Hence, the better option is, to transfer the extra jobs to other computers in the
same network.
 So performance of the computer is increased.

5. Communication facility:

 Using a network, users can communicate efficiently and easily through e-mail,
messages etc.
 The network allows to exchanging the important messages in a speed manner
without wasting paper.
Dis-advantages:

 Purchasing network cables and servers can be expensive.

 Managing a large network is complicated. It requires trained employees.
 If the server breaks down, files on the server will not be accessible.
 Virus can spread to other computers throughout a computer network.
 Security procedures must be maintained to prevent hacking. Example: Firewall.

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Types of Networks

Networks are classified based on their scale and scope. They are

1. Local Area Network (LAN)

2. Wide Area Network (WAN)
3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
4. Campus/Corporate Area Network (CAN)
5. Personal Area Network (PAN)

1. Local Area Network (LAN):

 LAN was first invented for communication between two computers.

 It is used to connect computers and devices in a limited geographical area.
 LANs are used in home, school, computer laboratory, office building etc.
 LAN is based on Ethernet technology.

2. Wide Area Network (WAN):

 WAN is created by linking LAN’s together.

 WAN covers a large geographic area such as a city, country etc.
 With the help of WAN, share the information in the world wide.
 WAN across the world are connected to form global network is called as
Internet.

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3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

 MAN is a network that inter-connects computers in a geographical area.

 The size of MAN is lies in between LAN and WAN.
 It covers smaller area. i.e., 50 square kilometers.
 It is a high speed network that allows sharing of regional resources.
 The below diagram shows inter-connect network between cities. It is formed by
using several LAN’s.

4. Campus/Corporate Area Network (CAN):

 CAN is a network, that interconnects LANs with in a limited geographical area.

 The size of CAN is larger than LAN and smaller than MAN or WAN.
 CANs are designed for the particular place. i.e., Campus of a company,
University, Government, Military etc.

5. Personal Area Network (PAN):

 PAN is a network, which is designed for communication between computer

devices such as mobile computers, cell phones etc.
 The scope of a PAN is a few meters (less than 10 meters).
 Basically PANs are used to communicate with personal devices themselves.

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