Internet: The Technology Behind the Hype

In the past couple of years, the Internet has gone from an obscure research project to a ubiquitous icon in popular culture. Behind the hype is a sophisticated collection of technologies that have been in continuous use for almost thirty years. Starting with a small project called ARPANET in 1969, the Internet has evolved into a network of networks so large that it is impossible to count the number of users or computers connected. In this talk, I will review the history and evolution of the technology that is used in the Internet. In addition, I will explain the ideas behind many of the buz words and acronyms associated with computer networking such as router, bridge, fuzz ball, ARP storm, IPNG, SNMP, and HTTP. I will also discuss issues and technologies that will drive Internet evolution for the next decade.