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Digital Literacy How the Internet Works The Internet Connecting to the Internet

How does the ISP have storage in servers of all information you want to access. Where does ISP get it from?

I understand Router directs packets to ISP which has servers hosting websites and storing associated data. Obviously everyone hosts their websites on a number of different service providers. How does your ISP have anything you request? or does the ISP redirect a request to the IP, store the data, then break into packets to return to client.

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,108 Points

I think you have the right idea, but you're mixing the terms.

The ISP is a service provider, which uses a number of servers.
An IP is a numbered address. Each server would have a separate IP.
The Router directs packets to a particular server (IP).
The server would then handle the request, which might involve storing data, then send a reply back to the client.
The reply might be sent in one or more packets, depending on the size.

Faoud Mohammed
Faoud Mohammed
1,348 Points

I think he may be a bit confused there, but lets if this helps in layman terms, when you request information, your ISP will direct your request to the necessary destination stated in the TCP/IP header (using the destination IP Address Information), when that information is being send back from the destination web server, it is received by your ISP, then the information is routed back to your home. Your ISP would have servers that they use for services & storage etc to store information until your are connected live on the network and information is sent to you.!!!!Hope this helps...side note: their serves would have higher RAM and Storage capacity necessary to handle the customers that use their internet services.

Thanks that really makes sense and has helps clarify my understanding. I forgot about DNS servers as well! You are probably way to advanced to bother with this. But I found this excerpt from Stanford University very useful. Might be handy to pass on if you get any other similar questions. :)

https://web.stanford.edu/class/msande91si/www-spr04/readings/week1/InternetWhitepaper.htm

Have a good one Steven

Faoud Mohammed
Faoud Mohammed
1,348 Points

Hey John thanks, useful information bro!!!