5th Edition

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

By Douglas E. Comer Copyright 2019
    404 Pages 102 Color Illustrations
    by Chapman & Hall

    404 Pages 102 Color Illustrations
    by Chapman & Hall

    404 Pages 102 Color Illustrations
    by Chapman & Hall

    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.

    Chapter 1 The Internet is Everywhere

    Chapter 2 Telephones Everywhere

    Chapter 3 The World Was Once Analog

    Chapter 4 The Past and Present Digital Network

    Chapter 5 Basic Communication

    Chapter 6 Local Area Networks

    Chapter 7 Internet: Motivation and Beginnings

    Chapter 8 The Incredible Growth

    Chapter 9 Packet Switching

    Chapter 10 Internet: A Network of Networks

    Chapter 11 Internet Access Using Broadband and Wireless

    Chapter 12 Internet Performance

    Chapter 13 IP: Software to Create a Virtual Network

    Chapter 14 TCP: Software for Reliable Communication

    Chapter 15 Clients, Servers, and Internet Services

    Chapter 16 Names for Computers

    Chapter 17 Sharing an Internet Connection (NAT)

    Chapter 18 Why the Internet Works Well

    Chapter 19 Electronic Mail

    Chapter 20 The World Wide Web: Browsers and Basics

    Chapter 21 The World Wide Web: HTML and Web Pages

    Chapter 22 The World Wide Web: Web Pages that Change

    Chapter 23 Social Networking and Personal Publishing

    Chapter 24 The Internet of Things (IOT)

    Chapter 25 Internet Search (Search Engines)

    Chapter 26 Voice and Video Communication (VOIP)

    Chapter 27 File Transfer and Data Sharing

    Chapter 28 Remote Desktop

    Chapter 29 Cloud Services and Cloud Computing

    Chapter 30 Network Security (Encrypton and Firewalls)

    Chapter 31 Security Scams: Fooling Users

    Chapter 32 Secure Access from a Distance (VPNs)

    Chapter 33 Internet Economics and Electronic Commerce

    Chapter 34 A Global Digital Library

    Biography

    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.

    "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