Internet/Definition

A "network of networks" best known as the means of connecting academic and research computers, doing business online. The internet is the transport mechanism for documents and resources delivered via the World Wide Web; web pages are carried by one of many Internet application protocols, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Electronic mail (email) remains an important application not always using Web protocols, but things such as the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Internet technologies are increasingly the means that carry telephone and video services, and continuing to evolve new networking technologies.

Just as a physical highway needs means to control traffic lights and detect accidents, the "information superhighway" of the internet must have means of controlling its resources. Simply because such means are not accessible to drivers or end users does not mean they not present and essential. Support mechanisms include routing protocols that "draw the map" and detour around damaged "streets"; receive alarms and manually reset "speed limits", such as syslog and the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP0; automatically switch to a backup resource (e.g., Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol).