The Internet Book: Everything You Need to Know about Computer Networking and How the Internet Works

The Internet Book, Fifth Edition explains how computers communicate, what the Internet is, how the Internet works, and what services the Internet offers. It is designed for readers who do not have a strong technical background — early chapters clearly explain the terminology and concepts needed to understand all the services. It helps the reader to understand the technology behind the Internet, appreciate how the Internet can be used, and discover why people find it so exciting. In addition, it explains the origins of the Internet and shows the reader how rapidly it has grown. It also provides information on how to avoid scams and exaggerated marketing claims. The first section of the book introduces communication system concepts and terminology. The second section reviews the history of the Internet and its incredible growth. It documents the rate at which the digital revolution occurred, and provides background that will help readers appreciate the significance of the underlying design. The third section describes basic Internet technology and capabilities. It examines how Internet hardware is organized and how software provides communication. This section provides the foundation for later chapters, and will help readers ask good questions and make better decisions when salespeople offer Internet products and services. The final section describes application services currently available on the Internet. For each service, the book explains both what the service offers and how the service works. About the Author Dr. Douglas Comer is a Distinguished Professor at Purdue University in the departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has created and enjoys teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on computer networks and Internets, operating systems, computer architecture, and computer software. One of the researchers who contributed to the Internet as it was being formed in the late 1970s and 1980s, he has served as a member of the Internet Architecture Board, the group responsible for guiding the Internet’s development. Prof. Comer is an internationally recognized expert on computer networking, the TCP/IP protocols, and the Internet, who presents lectures to a wide range of audiences. In addition to research articles, he has written a series of textbooks that describe the technical details of the Internet. Prof. Comer’s books have been translated into many languages, and are used in industry as well as computer science, engineering, and business departments around the world. Prof. Comer joined the Internet project in the late 1970s, and has had a high-speed Internet connection to his home since 1981. He wrote this book as a response to everyone who has asked him for an explanation of the Internet that is both technically correct and easily understood by anyone. An Internet enthusiast, Comer displays INTRNET on the license plate of his car.

Table of Contents:
The Internet Is Everywhere. Telephones Everywhere. The World Was Once Analog. The Past and Present Digital Network. Basic Communication. Local Area Networks. Internet: Motivation and Beginnings. The Incredible Growth. Packet Switching. Internet: A Network of Networks. Internet Access Using Broadband and Wireless. Internet Performance. IP: Software to Create A Virtual Network. TCP: Software for Reliable Communication. Clients, Servers, And Internet Services. Names for Computers. Sharing an Internet Connection (NAT). Why the Internet Works Well. Electronic Mail. The World Wide Web: Browsers and Basics. The World Wide Web: HTML and Web Pages. The World Wide Web: Web Pages That Change. Social Networking and Personal Publishing. The Internet of Things. Internet Search (Search Engines). Voice and Video Communication (VoIP). File Transfer and Data Sharing. Remote Desktop. Cloud Services and Cloud Computing. Network Security (Encryption and Firewalls). Security Scams: Fooling Users. Secure Access from A Distance (VPNs). Internet Economics and Electronic Commerce. A Global Digital Library.

About the Author :
Douglas Comer is a Distinguished Professor at Purdue University in the departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has created and enjoys teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on computer networks and Internets, operating systems, computer architecture, and computer software. One of the researchers who contributed to the Internet as it was being formed in the late 1970s and 1980s, he has served as a member of the Internet Architecture Board, the group responsible for guiding the Internet’s development. Comer is an internationally recognized expert on computer networking, the TCP/IP protocols, and the Internet, who presents lectures to a wide range of audiences. In addition to research articles, he has written a series of textbooks that describe the technical details of the Internet. Comer’s books have been translated into many languages, and are used in industry as well as computer science, engineering, and business departments around the world. He is a Fellow of The Association for Computing Machinery (the major professional society in computer science) and editor of the scientific journal, Software — Practice and Experience. Professor Comer had dial-up Internet access from his home in the late 1970s, has enjoyed a direct connection with twenty-four hour per day service since 1981, and uses the Internet daily. He wrote this book as a response to everyone who has asked him for an explanation of the Internet that is both technically correct and easily understood by anyone. An Internet enthusiast, Comer displays INTRNET on the license plate of his car.

Review :
"This is an excellent text for a thorough but non-technical introduction to the Internet, its usage and how it works. Comer takes a complex topic and through everyday examples and analogy makes the information clear and accessible for readers who may have no background in technology." - Adam R. Albina, PhD, Assistant Professor, Saint Anselm College