Internet, LANs, OS/2 Warp

The Internet is arguably the most famous computer network that has ever been put together, yet it evolved without central planning or even a well-coordinated network. Instead of being a single network, the Internet is actually many networks that are interconnected, with tens of thousands of computers (and their users) able to communicate with each other through a common protocol across the giant web.

Originally a network that spanned colleges and government agencies, the Internet has expanded to include hundreds of thousands of users worldwide who communicate on a variety of issues and topics. Service providers such as America On-Line, CompuServe and Prodigy offer Internet access in addition to other services; charges for these on-line services vary depending on the exact package that the user selects.

At the heart of the Internet is the communication software that makes communication across various hardware platforms possible. Users on the Internet either are connected directly, or through an on-line service. All Internet communications use TCP/IP software to translate information going to and coming from the Internet, and some users are directly connected to the Internet through a host server on their network.

According to the Internet Society, more than 20 million individuals throughout the world have found a way to connect to the Internet and are active participants. An estimated additional 160,000 users join each month either

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however, be a daunting task. History When computers first arrived in businesses, they were represented by mainframe systems that had a large central processing unit (CPU) and many terminals connected to that unit. Everyone could share information (within defined security parameters) because everyone was using the same machine. The personal computer changed that situation. As the personal computer replaced typewriters, and as word processing software and spreadsheet software became easier to use, increasing numbers of office workers were no longer connected to a single machine and single CPU. Instead, information was kept on the personal computer located in each person's office. If one person wanted a copy of a file that another person had, information was downloaded to a diskette and handed to the other individual. Some companies began connecting their personal computers to the mainframe (or minicomputer) that was still in the office; this permitted individuals to use their personal computer as either a terminal on the large system, or a standalone computer. It also enabled them to share files from personal computer to personal computer by transferring the files to the large system, and then downloading them to the other

Category: Science - I