Internet General Use

What is the Internet?
What is a Browser?
What is Domain Name?
What is Bandwidth?
What is a modem?
What is DSL?
What is ISDN?
What is a T1?
What is a Fractional T1?
What is Frame Relay?
What is CIR?
How do I search for specific information about a special topic on the Internet?
What is a Plug-in?
What does a Plug-in do?
How do I install a Plug-in?
What is Web Hosting?
What is HTML?
What is Java?
What is FTP?
What is Chat?
What is SPAM?
What is a Newsgroup?

Browser Error Messages

401 Unauthorized
403 Forbidden
404 Not Found
407 Proxy Authorization Required
500 Server Error
Connection Refused By Host
DNS Lookup Failed (Failed DNS Lookup)
General Protection Fault
Netscape/Internet Explorer is Unable to Locate the Server
Netscape/Internet Explorer is Unable to Use the POP Server
Network Error
Not Found
TCP Error Encountered While Sending Request to server
There Was No Response
There Was No Response… Using Previously Cached Copy
This Site Has Moved
Too Many Users Are Connected to This Server
Unable to Locate Host
Unknown File Type

Internet General Use

What is the Internet?
A global network connecting millions of computers. The Internet was originally a government project, which was developed by computer scientists. After being released to the general public, the Internet has experienced an immense explosion in the growth of both users and content. As of 1998, the Internet has more than 100 million users worldwide and innumerable documents on a myriad of subjects.

What is a Browser?
A browser is software that allows you to view pages on the Internet. It converts text, graphics and formatting codes into pages you can display and read on your computer.

What is Domain Name?
This is the actual address of a site. A domain name can also refer specifically to the portion of an email address which is located to the right of the "@" sign. In this example, "yourname@fiberpipe.net," fiberpipe.net is the domain name.

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What is a Modem?
Acronym for modulator-demodulator. A modem is a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves. A modem converts between these two forms.

What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth indicates the information carrying capacity of a data transmission line. The higher the bandwidth, the broader the range of frequencies it is able to receive, and the faster data is able to travel. DSL, ISDN and Frame Relay can have a large bandwidth, enabling enhanced multimedia capability and faster Web page load up.

What is DSL?
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a "always on" Internet connection. There are several offerings for line speeds, beginning with 256Kb ranging up to 1.1 Mb. One feature that is extremely beneficial is you no longer have to log-on or log-out of the Internet as you do using a modem. Other benefits range from faster downloads of graphics, videos and other large data files.

What is ISDN?
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), an international communications standard for sending voice, video, and data over digital telephone lines. ISDN requires conditioned wires and supports data transfer rates of 64 Kbps (64,000 bits per second). Most ISDN lines offered by telephone companies give you two lines at once, called B channels. You can use one line for voice and the other for data, or you can use both lines for data to give you data rates of 128 Kbps.

What is a T1?
A dedicated network connection, supporting data rates of 1.544Mb per second. A T-1 line actually consists of 24 individual channels, each of which supports 64Kbits per second. Each 64Kbit/second channel can be configured to carry voice or data traffic.

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What is Fractional T-1?
A dedicated network connection using only a specified portion of the 1.544Mb per second. The circuit is broken down into 24 channels of 64 Kb each. Various combinations of these channels can be put together by the carrier, ranging from 256Kb to 1024 Kb.

What is Frame Relay?
Frame Relay is probably the simplest data communications protocol ever conceived. Designed to run over virtually error-free circuits, it's a protocol stripped down for speed. Instead of having dedicated circuits connecting networks, they use Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVC's) that link any two points across a common Carrier's network. The IP frames are transmitted intermittently-rather than in a continuous stream-over digital circuits and reassembled at the receiving end.

What is CIR?
Committed Information Rate (CIR) is a committed rate in bits-per-second at which the carrier agrees to accept packets from the client over a virtual circuit. The packets that are sent in excess of the CIR rate, become eligible to be discarded and not delivered if the frame relay network becomes congested, and it would then be necessary to resend these discarded packets.

How do I search for information about a specific topic on the Internet?
Click on the search button built into your browser and type the word or phrase that you are looking for. Sometimes the more specific you are, the better results you'll get. If you're not satisfied with the search engine that may be built into your browser, you can find another search engine on the web, such as these popular engines: Yahoo, Lycos, Search.com, Excite, and WebCrawler.

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What is a Plug-in?
A Plug-in is a program that extends the capabilities of your web browser. A good example of a Plug-in is a program that adds the ability to view 3D scenes into your web browser.

What does a Plug-in do?
A Plug-in allows you to view new and exciting web pages.

How do I install a Plug-in?
A Plug-in is a program and it must be installed by running its setup.exe. Note, this must be done with your web browser closed, otherwise the Plug-in will not be completely installed or it will not work until the browser reloads.

What is Web Hosting?
In order to publish a site, maintain links and transmit data on the World Wide Web your computer needs access to a "host." A host is a computer that literally connects your computer to the rest of the Web by serving as the starting and ending point of all transferred data. Consequently, a company that provides Web Hosting services, like Fiberpipe is granting access to a host computer and server (a host computer on a network).

What is HTML?
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), is the authoring language used to create documents (a.k.a. "web pages") on the World Wide Web.

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What is Java?
Java is a general purpose programming language with a number of features that make the language well suited for use on the World Wide Web. Small Java applications are called Java applets and can be downloaded from a Web server and run on your computer by a Java compatible Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer.

What is FTP?
File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the protocol used on the Internet for sending files.

What is Chat?
Real-time communication between two or more users via computer. Once a chat has been initiated, any user can enter text by typing on the keyboard and the entered text will appear on the other users' monitors. Most networks and online services offer a chat feature (the Internet has thousands upon thousands of them).

What is SPAM?
Better known as junk email, Spam is unsolicited email that is usually sent to a mailing list or newsgroup. The message contained in this type of mail is usually commercial and most likely has nothing to do with the group's specific interests or activities.

What is a Newsgroup?
An on-line discussion group. On the Internet, there are literally thousands of newsgroups covering every conceivable interest. To view and post messages to a newsgroup, you need a newsreader, a program that runs on your computer and connects you to a news server on the Internet. This area of the Internet is usually frequented by professionals who specialize in the subject of discussion for that particular newsgroup. Newsgroups are highly focused and those who frequent them are wary of users who may SPAM the group or post questions, which aren't relevant to the subject of discussion.

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Browser Error Messages

Responding to Error messages…Occasionally the browser gives you an error message. Don't panic; it's a common occurrence on the Internet. If you receive an error message, check the following:

• Did you type the address (URL)? If so, ensure there are no typing mistakes. Remember, URLs are case-sensitive.
• Are you sending your request at a busy time? Some servers cannot handle a large amount of network traffic. If the server gets flooded with requests and is unable to handle them, you may get an error message. Try again later.

401 Unauthorized indicates that the address you requested has limited access and you don't have the required permission. Check your address (URL); make sure you've entered it correctly. If the address is correct, this error was not caused by you or your Web browser.

403 Forbidden is a standard error message stating that you don't have permission to contact the address (URL) entered. You may want to try again later, as it may be a temporary situation. Additionally, make sure you entered the URL correctly. If the address is correct, this error was not caused by you or your Web browser.

404 Not Found indicates that the address (URL) specified in your location bar doesn't correspond with a known Web page. Be sure to check that the address (URL) you entered is correct. Web pages are stored on computers called servers. These servers have programs that organize these Web pages. The Web page you have requested may have been renamed or refiled, creating a new address.

407 Proxy Authorization Required means that the address you entered is to a server that cannot respond. This location may require a password or authorization. If you've entered a password, it hasn't been understood. Or, if you've entered an address manually, double-check it, and try sending it again.

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500 Server Error indicates that the requested address (URL) is correct, but the server you contacted isn't responding. The good news is that your request has been received; the bad news is that the server can't send you what you want. Try re-sending the address (URL). If the contact still isn't successful, wait awhile and try again.

Connection Refused by Host indicates that your request has been received, but the site where you've sent it - the host - is unable to process your request. Most likely this is temporary, perhaps because of maintenance on the site. Wait and try again.

DNS Lookup Failed (Failed DNS Lookup) It's the server that takes the domain name and reformats it as a number - called the IP address. This message tells you that a problem has occurred during this procedure. Before trying again, check the spelling and format of the address and try sending your request again.

General Protection Fault This error message is generated by the Windows operating system. Your browser has momentarily stopped working. Exit the browser and restart your computer.

Netscape/Internet Explorer Is Unable to Locate the Server This message appears when the browser cannot find the server you specified. The server may be busy, temporarily not working, or may not exist. Check the address in the location bar. Are you sure it's correct? If it is correct, try reaching it later. You may be attempting to contact the server at an especially busy time...

Netscape/Internet Explorer Is Unable to Use the POP Server This message indicates that your e-mail software is not configured correctly to reach the mail server, or the mail server is not responding. Try accessing your mail again, as it may be a temporary problem.

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Network Error This message indicates that your transmission has encountered a network error condition. Try again to see if the problem is temporary (as is often the case). Additionally, check to see if the browser is still working and whether your modem and transmission lines are functioning properly.

Not Found This short message tells you that the address (URL) you're trying to contact cannot be found. If you're sure you typed the address correctly, then it's possible the site no longer exists.

TCP Error Encountered While Sending Request to Server This is also called a system-level protocol error. There's not much you can do when this message occurs. It's a problem involving the communications protocol governing your Internet transmissions. It indicates that the network cannot transmit your message. Try sending the address (URL) request again. The problem may disappear.

There Was No Response This message appears when your Web browser cannot find the server you specified. The server may be busy or temporarily not working or may not exist. Try checking the address in the location bar.

There Was No Response . . . Using Previously Cached Copy The Web server you queried is not responding. However, there is already a copy of the Web page you wanted in your computer's memory in the cache folder. This copy is being displayed, although it may not contain the most current information. Be patient and try connecting again. Your browser and computer are fine; there may be a problem with the network or the server you want.

This Site has Moved The Web page has moved to another address (a different URL). Often you'll see a link to the new address. If there's not a link but the new address is displayed, copy the address into your location bar or into the Open button's dialog box and press Return.

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Too Many Users Are Connected to This Server There are more address (URL) requests going to the server than it can handle. Wait and try later. You'll probably succeed the second time. Note that servers vary in the number of requests they can handle. Often new servers, or those created without an idea of how large their audience will be, cannot handle many simultaneous requests.

Unable to Locate Host If this message appears, ensure the address (URL) is typed correctly. If it's correct, the problem may be one of the following:

The site can't be found. Maybe it's moved or no longer exists.
The connection between your computer and the network is broken. Check to see if the browser is still working; can you access two or three different Web sites? If you can, your connection is not the problem.

Unknown File Type This message appears when an address (URL) goes to a location containing a file in a format that cannot be read by the browser. Nothing is wrong with the browser, but you may need to enhance it. If the file you want is a type of graphic, or a sound or video clip in a new format, you may need to get additional software that allows your browser to read it. This software is generally referred to as a plug-in or a helper application. Often you will be prompted to download the plug-in software or helper application. See the plug-ins section of this manual for more details.

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