ASSIGNMENT NO 1:

COMPUTER COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING

1. What is Internet?
A means of connecting a computer to any other computer anywhere in the world
via dedicated routers and servers.
When two computers are connected over the Internet, they can send and receive all
kinds of information such as text, graphics, voice, video, and computer programs.
2. What are the basic components of internet?
Following are the basic components of internet.
Chat - IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is used for live discussions on the
Internet.
Ecommerce - Taking orders for products and services on the Internet.
E-mail - Exchanging electronic letters, messages, and small files.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol is the most common method of transferring
files between computers via the Internet.
Hosting - Making information available to others on the Internet.
Mailing Lists - E-mail messages forwarded to everyone on a special
interest list.
Search Engines - These tools are really a part of the World Wide Web
and are often used when looking for information because the Web has
grown so large and is without any inherent organizational structure.
Telnet - Creation of a dumb terminal session to a host computer in order
to run software applications on the host system.
Usenet - Newsgroups for receiving news and sending out
announcements.
World Wide Web - This is largest, fastest growing, part of the Internet,
the part for which Internet browsers like Netscapes Navigator and
Microsofts Explorer were designed. Business is the leading factor
fueling the rapid growth of the Web making information, advertising, and
product ordering readily available to everyone with Web access.
3. What is a protocol?

A protocol defines the format and the order of messages exchanged between two
or more communicating entities, as well as the actions taken on the transmission or
receipt of a message or other event.
4. Who defines protocols?

5. What is an API?
End systems attached to the Internet provide an Application Programming
Interface (API) that specifies how a program running on one end system asks the
Internet infrastructure to deliver data to a specific destination program running on
another end system. This Internet API is a set of rules that the sending program
must follow so that the Internet can deliver the data to the destination program.
6. What is Bandwidth?
In computer networks, bandwidth is used as a synonym for data transfer rate, the
amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period
(usually a second). Network bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second
(bps); modern networks typically have speeds measured in the millions of bits per
second (megabits per second, or Mbps) or billions of bits per second (gigabits per
second, or Gbps).
7. What is a router?
Routers are small physical devices that join multiple networks together.
Technically, a router is a Layer 3 gateway device, meaning that it connects two or
more networks and that the router operates at the network layer of the OSI model.
Home networks typically use a wireless or wired Internet Protocol (IP) router, IP
being the most common OSI network layer protocol. An IP router such as a DSL or
cable modem broadband router joins the home's local area network (LAN) to the
wide-area network (WAN) of the Internet.

8. How an access point is different from a router?

ROUTERS

Routers are better known as intermediary devices that enable computers and other
network components to communicate or pass information between two networks
e.g. between your home network and the Internet. The most astounding thing about
routers is their capability to direct network traffic. Routers can be wired (using
cables) or wireless. Routers also typically provide built-in security, such as a
firewall.
ACCESS POINTS
Access points provide wireless access to a wired Ethernet network. An access point
plugs into a hub, switch, or wired router and sends out wireless signals. This
enables computers and devices to connect to a wired network wirelessly. You can
move from one location to another and continue to have wireless access to a
network. When you connect to the Internet wirelessly using a public wireless
network in an airport, hotel or in public, you are usually connecting through an
access point.
9. List the internet service providers available in Pakistan?
Ptcl
Wateen
Worldcall Telecom Limited
Wi-tribe
Broadband Internet Service Provider
COMSATS Internet Service
10.List the various internet access technologies that you are aware of?
Dial-up
DSL (Telephone Line)
Cable (Coaxial Cable)
Fibre Optic
Broadband over Powerline
Wireless Broadband
Satellite Internet
WiMAX