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Chapter 2-The Internet 1 21
This two-part strategy-agency operation of
advanced networks combined with subsidies for
Internet access for certain groups of end users-
represents a more detailed framework than the
general NREN concepts and goals outlined in the
High Performance Computing Act of 1991. It is
expected to form the basis of NSF's forthcoming
solicitation for the operation of its component of
the NREN. It is also outlined in recently intro-
duced legislation, the High Performance Comput-
ing and High Speed Networking Applications Act
of 1993 (H.R. 1757), which would amend the
High Performance Computing Act of 1991. How-
ever, there is concern in parts of the user
community most affected by the change to an
environment in which there is no longer a general
purpose government operated network about the
cost of commercial services and about the timing
and management of the transition.
The remainder of this chapter describes the
technology used in the current Internet. Chapter 3
provides an overview of emerging concepts that
address some of the limitations of current network
technology and might be used to construct gigabit
networks. Chapter 4 describes the gigabit
testbeds, NSF- and ARPA-funded prototype net-
works that are investigating these new technolo-
gies. Chapter 5 outlines NSF, NASA, and DOE
plans for the deployment of the testbed technolo-
gies in their networks.
APPLICATIONS
From the users' perspective, an "application"
is a task that the combination of the computer and
the network enables them to perform. For exam-
ple, a science teacher might use the Internet to
locate information that can be used in a class, such
as images stored in NASA databases, or databases
containing tailored educational materials. Research-
ers use the Internet to track developments in their
field, by exchanging information or drafts of
papers and collaborating with other scientists.1In the business world, networks are increasingly
used to track inventory or manage activities
throughout a large company. In the future, net-
works may be used to help provide medical
services to distant locations.
From a network engineering perspective, an
"application " is a computer program that builds
on the basic network service to allow a user to
perform tasks. The application program provides
interaction with the user; it does not handle the
details of moving a message through the network
to its destination. These functions are performed
by communications software-a second program
running on the computer-and specialized hard-
ware that converts the computer's digital data to
the format used by the network. When an
applications program wants to send information
to another computer, it hands the message to the
communications software, which then formats the
message and sends it over the network.
There are four major Internet applications
electronic mail (e-mail), file transfer, remote
login, and news. Electronic mail is used to send
messages to other users of the Internet, and for
most users it is probably the application they use
the most frequently. File transfer (File Transfer
Protocol or FTP) is used to retrieve a "file" from
another computer; a file could be a computer
program, an article, or information from a com-
mercial database. "Remote login" (Telnet) is
used to control a distant computer; this is the
application used to access a supercomputer or one
of the other specialized computing resources on
the Internet. "News" is a kind of bulletin board
or discussion group-thousands of "newsgroups
address a wide range of different topics.
The current Internet applications are difficult to
use. For example, it is difficult to find information
resources on the network. First, the user has to
know that the information exists somewhere
reachable on the network, then where to find it,
and, having found the database, how to locate the
information in the database. A number of new0o For an overview of the wide range of uses for the Internet, see Daniel P. Dem, ''Applying the Internet, Ayte, February 1992, P. 111.
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United States. Congress. Office of Technology Assessment. Advanced Network Technology, report, June 1993; [Washington D.C.]. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc40038/m1/26/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.