This page is provided for the 'interested user' of the Internet - those seeking to understand it better, or maybe working in an industry that has been affected by it (and what industry hasn't been?) It is NOT for the industry expert but for the many people who have found themselves using the Internet more and more without any real understanding of how it works.

There are many levels of understanding the Net between novice and expert. And while there may be a lot of detail to grasp, this page is devoted to the 'Big Picture' stuff - the things you need to understand to get the idea of how the whole thing hangs together. And while the devil may indeed be in the detail, the remarkable effectiveness of the Internet should be a source of amazement: whatever else it may be, it is an astounding invention. So retain your sense of amazement, and read on.

Internet Foundations: Intro to TCP/IP and DNS

The Internet is big, but if you want to begin to understand it, the first things you need to know about are TCP/IP and the DNS. This article introduces these foundation topics in non-technical language.

Understanding NAT and Port Forwarding

It's easy to install an ADSL router for web browsing and email, but some applications require 'port forwarding'. This article explains what Port Forwarding means, and links to NetComm resources to help with port-forwarding configuration.

The Internet as Cold War Child

Brief look at the military origins of the Internet, and a reflection on the commercial use of TCP/IP.

Who's in charge here?

The Internet is such an amazingly effective system that it is hard to believe that it is essentially self-managing! This article is a brief intro to some of the governing bodies and systems that have been put together for making it all work. Includes links to some external resources.

updated 29/10/04