communicate to the computer. This layer is responsible for identifying
and establishing the availability of the intended communication partner, and
determining if sufficient resources for the intended communication exist.
communicating components from more than one network application. Some
examples of this include executing file transfers and e-mail, as well as enabling
remote access, network management activities, client/server processes, and
information location. Many network applications provide services for
communication over enterprise networks, but for present and future internet-
working, the need is fast developing to reach beyond the limits of current
physical networking. Today, transactions and information exchanges between
organizations are broadening to require internetworking applications like the
following:
seems to grow with each passing day) presenting diverse formats. Most
are multimedia and include some or all of the following: graphics, text,
video, and increasingly, even sound. (And as pressure to keep up the pace
mounts, websites are only getting slicker and snappier. Keep in mind, the
snazzier the site, the more resources it requires. You'll see why I mention
this later.) Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer simplify both
accessing and viewing websites.
(SMTP) or the X.400 standard to deliver messages between different
e-mail applications.
and processes that facilitates the flow of tasks such as accounting, shipping/
receiving, and order and inventory tracking between businesses.
where people can "meet" (connect) and communicate with each other
either by posting messages or by typing a live conversation. They can also
share public-domain software.
as well as search engines like Yahoo!, Excite, and AltaVista, which help
users locate the resources and information they need on the Internet.