P1 - Outline the web architecture and components which enable internet and web functionality
Computer Crazy a local business is considering to create a website to advertise their products and there are numerous web architecture and components that show how the web operates.
Web Architecture
· World Wide Web (WWW)
The World Wide Web also referred to as WWW, is a system of Internet servers that support a formatted document in a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The World Wide Web is the technology that allows web pages and web servers to exist. The web is an easier way to access information that is scattered across the Internet. A browser such as Firefox or Google allows a client to move from one document to another that may contain images, text and videos using the Hyperlinks.
· Internet Service Providers (ISP)
An Internet service provider is a company that supplies an Internet connection. For personal and business use, an ISP will need to be provided in order for them to access the Internet. The most common ways to connect an ISP is by using phone line, fibre optic cable or the use of a broadband connection cable. There are several well-known Internet service providers including Virgin Media, Sky Broadband and BT. Each ISP company provides competitive features in order to persuade users to choose them over their competitors, this may include the speed of the connection, levels on how much downloads & uploads each month as well as the monthly fees.
· Web Hosting Services
A web hosting service allows individuals and businesses to place their websites on a web server to make it accessible on the Internet. Individuals and businesses can host a website themselves however; they will require the correct equipment and a solid Internet connection to cope with the web traffic. A more cost effective option is paying a company such as Yahoo who provide a web hosting service a monthly fee for a certain amount of space on the web server. Numerous hosts not only provide space but also include various other management facilities including monitoring traffic, maintaining uptime as well as technical support.
· Domain Name Structure
A domain name is used to identify an IP address. When a user enters a website, that particular website is identified by the IP address from the web server. An IP address consists of a group of digits such as 132.39.24.013 however, it is difficult to remember therefore a website on the Internet should purchase a domain name, which will be linked with the IP address. An example of a simple domain name is www.google.com because it is easy to remember as well as type. The domain name structure allows the user to interpret different information such as characters that will appear between the prefix (www.) and the suffix (.co.uk)
· Domain Name Servers
A domain name server is an Internet service that will translate the domain name into an IP address. When a user types in a domain name for example www.sky.com, that domain name will be sent to the domain name server (DNS) where it will identify its correct IP address for the domain such as 124.325.745.126 before sending the web page back to the computer system. The domain name server runs on its own network and if a particular server struggles to translate the domain name, the server will ask another one and so forth until the correct IP address is identified and then returned to the user.
Components
· Hardware
§ Web Server
A web server delivers web pages on the Internet. For a website to be accessed on the World Wide Web the website created must be uploaded onto a web server. The web server can be referred to either as hardware or a software component; this will allow the web content to be displayed to the public. A router and a high-speed connection are important for the web server to connect to the Internet. Software applications such as Internet Information Services (IIS) and Apache are reliable and are a popular web server application. The software side of the web server controls the requests from the user's browsers as well as ensuring the website loads successfully.
§ Mail Server
When an email is sent, it passes through several mail servers along its way to the intended receiver. Without a series of mail servers users will not be able to send emails to those whose email did not match the users own. As a result, mail servers have to be broken down into two main categories incoming and outgoing mail servers. The incoming mail servers are referred POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) to a whereas the outgoing mail servers are known as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). Without these two types of mail servers users will not be able to communicate, send and receive emails.
§ Routers
A router is a device where networks are connected together. A router can also direct data traffic to the correct destination whether it is going to a web server or back to the client. The router looks at each destination address and passes it onto another router until the best possible route is found. When one the routers recognise the address, the web page is broken into packets and then sent back to the clients computer system. The reason it is broken down is that it will make the transfer back to the client much faster.
· Software
§ Browsers
A browser is a software application that is used to view web pages. The browser will translate the HTML language in a form the user will understand. When the user requests a web page, the web server will identify it and then send the information back to the user's computer system displaying it on the browser. There is a range of web browsers available to users including Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox. Different web browsers provide the user with a variety of functionality, speed of loading web pages and toolbars however, this is dependent of the user's preference of browser and the Internet connection.
Email Software
A software application used for creating, sending and receiving emails electronically. This electronic email is a form of communication where the majority of the time messages are exchanged through computer systems attached to a network. There are a range of email software's available for example Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Mail and Gmail. These specific email software offer advanced features such as anti-phishing and anti-spam to help protect the user and make it more efficient.
Web Architecture
· World Wide Web (WWW)
The World Wide Web also referred to as WWW, is a system of Internet servers that support a formatted document in a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The World Wide Web is the technology that allows web pages and web servers to exist. The web is an easier way to access information that is scattered across the Internet. A browser such as Firefox or Google allows a client to move from one document to another that may contain images, text and videos using the Hyperlinks.
· Internet Service Providers (ISP)
An Internet service provider is a company that supplies an Internet connection. For personal and business use, an ISP will need to be provided in order for them to access the Internet. The most common ways to connect an ISP is by using phone line, fibre optic cable or the use of a broadband connection cable. There are several well-known Internet service providers including Virgin Media, Sky Broadband and BT. Each ISP company provides competitive features in order to persuade users to choose them over their competitors, this may include the speed of the connection, levels on how much downloads & uploads each month as well as the monthly fees.
· Web Hosting Services
A web hosting service allows individuals and businesses to place their websites on a web server to make it accessible on the Internet. Individuals and businesses can host a website themselves however; they will require the correct equipment and a solid Internet connection to cope with the web traffic. A more cost effective option is paying a company such as Yahoo who provide a web hosting service a monthly fee for a certain amount of space on the web server. Numerous hosts not only provide space but also include various other management facilities including monitoring traffic, maintaining uptime as well as technical support.
· Domain Name Structure
A domain name is used to identify an IP address. When a user enters a website, that particular website is identified by the IP address from the web server. An IP address consists of a group of digits such as 132.39.24.013 however, it is difficult to remember therefore a website on the Internet should purchase a domain name, which will be linked with the IP address. An example of a simple domain name is www.google.com because it is easy to remember as well as type. The domain name structure allows the user to interpret different information such as characters that will appear between the prefix (www.) and the suffix (.co.uk)
· Domain Name Servers
A domain name server is an Internet service that will translate the domain name into an IP address. When a user types in a domain name for example www.sky.com, that domain name will be sent to the domain name server (DNS) where it will identify its correct IP address for the domain such as 124.325.745.126 before sending the web page back to the computer system. The domain name server runs on its own network and if a particular server struggles to translate the domain name, the server will ask another one and so forth until the correct IP address is identified and then returned to the user.
Components
· Hardware
§ Web Server
A web server delivers web pages on the Internet. For a website to be accessed on the World Wide Web the website created must be uploaded onto a web server. The web server can be referred to either as hardware or a software component; this will allow the web content to be displayed to the public. A router and a high-speed connection are important for the web server to connect to the Internet. Software applications such as Internet Information Services (IIS) and Apache are reliable and are a popular web server application. The software side of the web server controls the requests from the user's browsers as well as ensuring the website loads successfully.
§ Mail Server
When an email is sent, it passes through several mail servers along its way to the intended receiver. Without a series of mail servers users will not be able to send emails to those whose email did not match the users own. As a result, mail servers have to be broken down into two main categories incoming and outgoing mail servers. The incoming mail servers are referred POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) to a whereas the outgoing mail servers are known as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). Without these two types of mail servers users will not be able to communicate, send and receive emails.
§ Routers
A router is a device where networks are connected together. A router can also direct data traffic to the correct destination whether it is going to a web server or back to the client. The router looks at each destination address and passes it onto another router until the best possible route is found. When one the routers recognise the address, the web page is broken into packets and then sent back to the clients computer system. The reason it is broken down is that it will make the transfer back to the client much faster.
· Software
§ Browsers
A browser is a software application that is used to view web pages. The browser will translate the HTML language in a form the user will understand. When the user requests a web page, the web server will identify it and then send the information back to the user's computer system displaying it on the browser. There is a range of web browsers available to users including Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox. Different web browsers provide the user with a variety of functionality, speed of loading web pages and toolbars however, this is dependent of the user's preference of browser and the Internet connection.
Email Software
A software application used for creating, sending and receiving emails electronically. This electronic email is a form of communication where the majority of the time messages are exchanged through computer systems attached to a network. There are a range of email software's available for example Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Mail and Gmail. These specific email software offer advanced features such as anti-phishing and anti-spam to help protect the user and make it more efficient.