BTEC

2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

Lesson 6 The Internet

(Student Book B Pg 1 - 3)

Starter When did the Internet first begin?

1969
1. Match the following key terms to the correct abbreviations and descriptions.
Term
Point of Presence

Abbreviation
NAP

Description
The protocol which takes data from a users
application program and passes it to the IP
for transfer across the internet. The reverse
operation is performed at the destination
computer, i.e. the TCP reassembles the data
(from individual packets) and forwards them
to the users application program. The close
relation with the IP means that the terms are
usually used in combination, i.e. TCP/IP.

Network Access
Point

TCP

A standard protocol which allows files to be

transferred between two computers on a
TCP-based network. It is commonly used to
download programs to your computer from
other servers and to upload web pages that
you have created to the server that is hosting
them on the internet.

Internet Protocol

ISP

An access point to the internet. Normally, it is

a location which contains all of the hardware
which allows internet users access to the
internet. An Internet Service Provider (ISP)
may operate several PoPs in their area to
allow good access to the internet.

Transmission
Control Protocol

FTP

An interchange between
networks within the
internet. It allows ISPs to interconnect with
each
other

File Transfer
Protocol

IP

Direct connection to the internet would be

very costly and so ISPs provide a costeffective gateway for people and
organisations to get onto the internet. In the
UK there are many ISPs, with some of the
most popular ones being BT (British
Telecom), Virgin Media and Sky.

Internet Service
Provider

POP

The protocol used to route packets of

information across the internet

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

Internet Service Provider

An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company which provides access to the internet for individuals or
other companies (e.g. BT).
An ISP will have many servers to do different things depending on the size of the company and amount
of customers, e.g. one for outgoing email, one for incoming email, and may well have several for general
net traffic, users details, search engines, user web pages, etc.

Server

ISP

Client

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BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

2. Read Internet Infrastructure on Pg 2 careful and write the descriptions next to the correct piece of
hardware.
Server
Acomputerorprogramwhichrunspurelytoservetheneedsofother
computers.Itrunsspecial
serversoftwaretoservicetherequirementsoftheusers(clients).Thereare
severaltypesofservers,
including!leserversandprinterserversonalocalareanetwork(LAN),andweb
andemailservers
thatmanagecommunicationwiththeinternet.

ConnectingBackbone
Themainconnectingdataroutesbetween
largenetworksontheinternetandsmaller
networksinlocalregions.

Router
Apieceofhardwarethatconnectstwoormore
networks.Inrelationtotheinternet,datafrom
theISPissentintothenetworkandtherouterthen
directsthedatapacketstothecorrect
destinations.Therouteralsohandlesdata
travellingintheotherdirection.Routerscanbe
describedasdirectorsoftrafficforthenetworks.

Clients
Acomputerwhichusestheservicesprovided
bytheserver

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

3. Name three methods for connection to the Internet:

a: Wireless..
b: Broadband..
c: Dial-Up..
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of answer a above?
Advantages
No wires needed

Disadvantages
Need to have access to a wireless hub.
Can be less secure than wired
connections.

Many different devices

Access anywhere

Tend to have slower data transmission

speeds than wired broadband methods

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of answer b above?

Advantages
Broadband
connections can give
better reception
are usually faster than
dial-up.
Quick speed

Disadvantages
Requires a base which is wired in, so it
is less "exible than wireless.

Costs

Have to be near a router

6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of answer c above?
Advantages
Can use existing
telephone circuits

Disadvantages
Older technology gives poor reception
at times.

Secure connection
The conversion from digital to
analogue signals can cause errors.

Low Price
Tends to be slower than other
connection methods.

Plenary What is meant by bandwidth and transmission rate?

Bandwidth is a measure of the amount of data that can be transmitted through a connection over a given
amount of time.
Bandwidth, also called data transfer rate, is usually expressed in bit per second.

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

A.Silver