Thread: Questions about the Net

the internet is not a single "thing"
it's an interconnected network of computers
(connected by copper wire, fiber optics, satellite and radio links)

What stores all the information?
Computers connected to the internet
therefore the information on the internet is not stored in a single place.
(indeed, finding out which computer you need to communicate with to deal with a request, is one of the core services of the internet)

Every machine connected to the internet has to have a unique address (called an IP address)
this address is used (through a complex routing system, which I won't go into) to allow communication between it, and any other machine on the internet

Bear in mind that the Internet, and the Web are not the same
The Internet is the physical act of connecting machines together and having the ability for any one machine to communicate with any other.

The internet allows for many services to be run
The Web being one of those services
Email is another
FTP, VoIP, etc. etc.

Can parts of the internet be lost?
Sure
If I don't pay my provider's bill, I'll lose my email and my webspace.

Actually, yes, the internet is a single thing.

See here.

It's hundreds of millions of computers and servers around the world. Every single IP address maps to a single server. The servers themselves are usually a hive of computers.

Are you trying to get some of that internets money? I heard they had internets out west.

We're going out Calafornee way to find some internets... I don't know if we'll survive.

alt

Originally Posted by Korittke

Actually, yes, the internet is a single thing.

See here.

You're a funny one.