Internet Protocol Suite Fundamentals
16 ECLYPSE User Guide
About the Internet Network
The internet is the world-wide interconnection of networks. At its root however, it is not one
big network, but a group of networks that communicate between each other by using
standard protocols and by using gateways between these networks called routers.
The structure of the internet is decentralized and non-hierarchical. On the internet, all
communication uses the Internet Protocol (IP) to communicate and all connected devices
are identified by their IP address. An Internet Registry allocates IP addresses to internet
service providers to be used by their users.
Data is sent across the network in packets. Each packet has a header that identifies the
sender’s and intended receiver’s IP addresses.