SLIP
(Serial Line IP) A common protocol for dial up internet accounts.
PPP
(Point-to-Point Protocol) PPP offers a more stable and sometimes faster connection than SLIP.
Comment: Most ISP consumer accounts include both SLIP and PPP services and it is advisable to have a PPP account because it will provide a better connection
POP
(1) (Point of Presence) The POP is the local number users dial into via their modem. The more POP's, the fewer busy signals.
(2) (Post Office Protocol) POP's are also used by e-mail programs to download messages
from a mail server on the Internet, to the users hard drive.
IP address
(Internet Protocol address) The physical address of your computer which communicates with your Internet Service Providers (ISP's) computer.
HTTP
(HyperText Transport Protocol) The initial prefix you type before a world wide web address. ( http://)
URL
(Uniform Resource Locator) The Internet addressing scheme that defines the route to a file or program. For example, a home page on the World Wide Web is accessed via its URL.
Following is a list of popular prefixes that let you gain access to specific types of URL's.
http:// World Wide Web server
ftp:// FTP server
mailto:// e-mail
news:// newsgroup
file:// file on local system
Internet address
This is the name you type in the URL to get around the Internet. For example www.folksonline.com gets you to our home page. The .com means we are a business. Below are other endings which tell you what type of web site you are going to. Most schools are .edu , while most non-profit companies are .org etc.
Internet Domains (U.S.)
com - business (commercial)
edu - educational and research
gov - government
mil - military agency
net - gateway or host
org - non-profit organization
Outside of the U.S., the last part of the address is usually the country domain; for example, ca for Canada and uk for United Kingdom.
DNS
(Domain Naming System) Allows you to type www.companyname.com or www.personalname.com instead of having to remember a bunch of computer numbers (ie 106.112.94.14), to reach other people on the net.
Gateway
A gateway converts signals between different computer networks.
SMTP
(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) A way to send and receive messages over the Internet.
The transmission of memos and messages to a single recipient or to multiple users all around the world.
E-mail versus Fax
Fax documents are scanned images and are thus treated like pictures even if they contain only text.
E-mail messages are plain text that can edited immediately in any text editor or word processor.
FTP
(File Transfer Protocol/File Transfer Program) Lets you transfer files to and from your computer, directly to and from another computer, anywhere in the world. The best part is there are no long distance charges.
Download
To transmit a file from one computer to another. Download means receive a file, upload means transmit or send a file.
Protocol
Rules governing transmitting and receiving of data.
Host
A host refers to any computer that functions as the source of information or a computer which offers public services. (a source of sharable programs and data)
Server
A computer in a network shared by multiple users.
World Wide Web
This allows a user to jump from document to related document no matter where it is stored on the Internet. World Wide Web browsers, such as Mosaic, Explorer, and NetScape, allow users to browse "the Web."
The Web has become a centerpiece of Internet activity, because its documents can contain both text and graphics, and it is quickly turning the Internet into an online shopping mall. In 1994, Web traffic
increased more than 18 times that of the previous year.
InterNIC
(NFSnet Network Information Center) The source for Internet information and registration.
Internet network addresses and domain names are assigned by InterNIC Registration Services, which is administered by Network Solutions Inc. of Herndon, VA.