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Lesson 2
Objective
   The Internet connection
  Describe the components of the Internet.

The Internet connection
   There are three parts to an Internet connection:
  1. The client
  2. The server
  3. The connection linking them

This configuration is called the client/server model. In the client/server model, one program requests a service from another program. The client makes a request; the server answers the request with a service. The client and server communicate with each other by both physical (hardware) and logical (software) links.
Accessing the Internet
Client
   A client consists of:
  1. A desktop computer (hardware)
  2. A program (software) that requests information from the server

The program usually resides on a personal computer. An example of such a program is a Web browser. When you want to see a particular Web site, the browser handles your request.
Server
   Typically a server is a remote device shared by many users. A server can be:
  1. A machine that stores a particular resource you want to use, such as a database or Web pages
  2. A machine that performs specific functions such as sending and receiving e-mail

Servers are available commercially from companies including Sun Microsystems, Sequent, IBM, Unisys, Dell, Compaq, and NCR. The figure below illustrates the relation between a client and server connected through local and regional Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Client/server connection
   
Next lesson
   In the next lesson, you'll learn about the hardware and software you need to access the Internet.
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