The Internet is a global
network, connecting many smaller individual networks. For example, the
computer in your dorm room is connected to another computer on campus.
All the departments on campus are then connected to a larger network in
the state. The Massachusetts network is connected to regional, national
and international networks.
The Internet is also
a set of "protocols" that allow you to communicate with people, move files
between computers, and find and share information. The protocols you are
likely to use are:
email
|
for
communicating with people across the Internet |
http
|
(hypertext
transfer protocol) for making Web pages accessible |
telnet
|
for
logging into other computers such as databases and host computers |
ftp
|
(file
transfer protocol) for transferring files from one computer to another
across the Internet |
|