Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)

 

Internet Research Task Force (IRTF), and Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG). On 16 November 2005, the United Nations-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis established the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to discuss Internet-related issues.

Infrastructure:

The Internet’s communications infrastructure consists of a system of software layers that control its hardware components and various aspects of the architecture. Like any computer network, the Internet physically consists of routers, media (such as cabling and radio links), repeaters, and modems. However, as an example of Internetworking, many network nodes are not necessarily internet equipment, the Internet packets are carried by other full-length networking protocols, the internet serves as a uniform networking standard, moves throughout a variety of hardware, and the packets are directed by IP routers.

Routing and service categories:

Packet routing across the Internet involves several levels of Internet Service Providers.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) establish worldwide connectivity between personal networks at various levels. End users, who access the Internet only when needed to perform a task or obtain information, represent the routing hierarchy. At the top of the routing hierarchy, Tier 1 networks, large telecommunications companies, exchange traffic directly with each other over high-speed fiber optic cables and peering agreements. Tier 2 and lower networks purchase Internet traffic from other providers to reach at least some parties on the global Internet, although they may engage in peering. An ISP can use a single upstream provider for connectivity or implement multihoming to achieve redundancy and load balancing.

Internet exchange centers are the main traffic exchange centers that have physical connectivity to multiple ISPs. Large organizations such as academic institutions, large enterprises, and governments can act like ISPs, engaging in peering and purchasing traffic on behalf of their internal networks. Research networks are interconnected with larger subnetworks such as GEANT, GLORIAD, Internet2, and JANET, the UK’s national research and education network. The Internet IP routing structure and the hypertext links of the World Wide Web are examples of scale-free networks.