One way to bring concepts to life in an introductory data networks course is for students to physically build a network that addresses a real business problem. However it can be challenging to find a suitable business problem, particularly if the network can exist only during the class period. This case presents a realistic business scenario and…

Discusses information flow in networks and predicting network traffic and describes a study that uses time series analysis on a day's worth of Internet log data. Examines nonlinearity and traffic invariants, and suggests that prediction of network traffic may not be possible with current techniques. (Author/LRW)

The authors have developed the "Ethernet Speaker" (ES), a network-enabled single board computer embedded into a conventional audio speaker. Audio streams are transmitted in the local area network using multicast packets, and the ES can select any one of them and play it back. A key requirement for the ES is that it must be capable of playing any…

Explains File Transfer Protocol (FTP), an application software program that allows a user to transfer files from one computer to another. The benefit of the rapid operating speed of FTP is discussed, the use of FTP on microcomputers, minicomputers, and workstations is described, and FTP problems are considered. (four references) (LRW)

One segment of a computerized adventure game system (Multi-User Dimensions, or MUD) designed for learners of English as a second language (ESL) is described. The acronym MOO refers to MUD Object Oriented, the programming language used for the system. The system allows for individuals in different locations to communicate directly with each other,…

Oregon State University's demand for bandwidth to support scientific collaboration and research continues to grow exponentially, while state funding declines due to hard economic times. The challenge faced by these authors was to find creative yet fiscally responsible ways to meet OSU's bandwidth demands. Looking at their options for high-capacity…

Discusses the Internet and how it works, beginning with its origins in the U.S. military and covering such issues as clients and servers, upload and download, and the World Wide Web. (Author/PVD)

This guide is designed for people who are new to the world of electronic/telecommunication access. It is an easy-to-read, self-instructional tool designed for beginning Internet users. Through a step-by-step process, the guide introduces searching online catalogs in libraries. A discussion of library search strategies is followed by seven steps…

Software programs and Internet and World Wide Web addresses that are available to facilitate data sharing by colleges and universities are listed. Included are government sites, institutional research offices and services, and information on emerging technologies that offer promise in this area. (Author/MSE)