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1957
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The USSR launches Sputnik, the first artificial earth satellite. In response, the United States forms the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) within the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish US lead in science and technology applicable to the military.
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Backbones: None - Hosts: None
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1962
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RAND Paul Baran, of the RAND Corporation (a government agency), was commissioned by the U.S. Air Force to do a study on how it could maintain its command and control over its missiles and bombers, after a nuclear attack. This was to be a military research network that could survive a nuclear strike, decentralized so that if any locations (cities) in the U.S. were attacked, the military could still have control of nuclear arms for a counter-attack.
Baran's finished document described several ways to accomplish this. His final proposal was a packet switched network.
"Packet switching is the breaking down of data into datagrams or packets that are labeled to indicate the origin and the destination of the information and the forwarding of these packets from one computer to another computer until the information arrives at its final destination computer. This was crucial to the realization of a computer network. If packets are lost at any given point, the message can be resent by the originator."
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Backbones: None - Hosts: None
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1967
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ACM Symposium on Operating Principles. Plan presented for a packet-switched network.
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Backbones: None - Hosts: None
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1968
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ARPA awarded the ARPANET contract to BBN. BBN had selected a Honeywell minicomputer as the base on which they would build the switch. The physical network was constructed in 1969, linking four nodes: University of California at Los Angeles, SRI (in Stanford), University of California at Santa Barbara, and University of Utah. The network was wired together via 50Kbps circuits. The Internet is born.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET - Hosts: 4
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1969
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ARPANET commissioned by DOD for research into networking. First node at UCLA and, soon after, at Stanford Research Institute, UCSB & the University of Utah. Use of Information Message Processors developed by Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc. (BBN). First Request for Comment (RFC): "Host Software" by Steve Crocker.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET - Hosts: 4
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1970
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ALOHAnet developed by Norman Abrahamson, University of Hawaii. ARPANET hosts start using Network Control Protocol (NCP).
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET - Hosts: 4
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1971
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Network grows to 15 nodes: UCLA, SRI, UCSB, U of Utah, BBN, MIT, RAND, SDC, Harvard, Lincoln Lab, Stanford, UIU(C), CWRU, CMU, NASA/Ames. Intel releases the first microprocessor.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET - Hosts: 23
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1972
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The first e-mail program was created by Ray Tomlinson of BBN.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was renamed The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (or DARPA).
ARPANET was currently using the Network Control Protocol or NCP to transfer data. This allowed communications between hosts running on the same network.
International Conference on Computer Communications with demonstration of ARPANET between 40 machines organized by Bob Kahn.
InterNetworking Working Group (INWG) is created to address the need for establishing agreed upon protocols. The Chairman was Vinton Cerf.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET - Hosts: 23
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1973
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Development began on the protocol later to be called TCP/IP, it was developed by a group headed by Vinton Cerf from Stanford and Bob Kahn from DARPA. This new protocol was to allow diverse computer networks to interconnect and communicate with each other.
First international connections to ARPANET: England and Norway.
Bob Metcalfe's Harvard PhD Thesis outlines the idea for Ethernet.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET - Hosts: 23+
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1974
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Vint Cerf & Bob Kahn publish "A Protocol for Packet Network Internetworking" which specified, in detail, the design of a Transmission Control Program (TCP). First Use of term Internet by Vint Cerf & Bob Kahn in paper on Transmission Control Protocol.
BBN opens Telenet, a commercial version of ARPANET.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET - Hosts: 23+
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1975
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Operational management of Internet transferred to DCA (now DISA).
First release of the "Jargon File" by Raphael Finkel of SAIL.
Micro Instrumentation and Telementry Systems ("MITS") introduces the Altair 8800, a micro computer kit which retails for $397. The kit required assembly, had a 256 byte memory and had to be programmed in machine code - 0s and 1s.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen approach MITS and propose to develop a BASIC compiler for the Altair 8800. They later provide it and Microsoft is born.
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1976
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Dr. Robert M. Metcalfe develops Ethernet, which allowed coaxial cable to move data extremely fast. This was a crucial component to the development of LANs.
The packet satellite project went into practical use. SATNET, Atlantic packet Satellite network, was born. This network linked the United States with Europe. Surprisingly, it used commercial Intelsat satellites that were owned by the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, rather than government satellites.
Queen Elizabeth sends out an e-mail.
UUCP (Unix-to-Unix CoPy) developed at AT&T Bell Labs and distributed with UNIX one year later.
The Department of Defense began to experiment with the TCP/IP protocol and soon decided to require it for use on ARPANET.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 111+
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1977
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THEORYNET created at the University of Wisconsin, providing electronic mail, (using UUCP), to over 100 researchers in computer science. E-mail specifications are developed.
First demonstration of ARPANET/Packet Radio Net/SATNET operation of Internet protocols over gateways.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 111+
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1979
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USENET (the decentralized news group network) was created by Steve Bellovin, a graduate student at University of North Carolina, and programmers Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis. It was based on UUCP.
The Creation of BITNET, by IBM, "Because its Time Network," introduced the "store and forward" network. It was used for e-mail and listservs.
The first MUD (Multiuser Dungeon) -- interactive multiuser sites appear. These include interactive adventure games, board games with rich and detailed databases.
ARPA establishes the Internet Configuration Control Board (ICCB).
The Packet Radio Network (PRNET) experiment starts, with ARPA funding. Most communications take place between mobile vans.
Meeting between the University of Wisconsin, DARPA, NSF and computer scientists from many universities to establish a Computer Science Department research computer network.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 111+
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1981
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National Science Foundation created backbone called CSNET 56 Kbps network for institutions without access to ARPANET. Vinton Cerf proposed a plan for an inter-network connection between CSNET and the ARPANET. CSNET later becomes known as the Computer and Science Network.
BITNET, the "Because it's Time Network" is started as a cooperative network at the City University of New York, with the first connection to Yale.
Minitel (Teletel) is deployed across France by French Telecom.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, 56Kbps CSNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 213
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1982
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INWG establishes the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), as the protocol suite, commonly known as TCP/IP, for ARPANET. This leads to one of the first definition of an "internet" as a connected set of networks, specifically those using TCP/IP, and "Internet" as connected TCP/IP internets. DOD declares TCP/IP suite to be standard for DOD.
EUnet (European UNIX Network) is created by EUUG to provide e-mail and USENET services. The first connections are between the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and the UK.
External Gateway Protocol specifications are developed. EGP is used for gateways between different networks.
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1983
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Internet Activities Board (IAB) is created and replaces the ICCB.
On January 1st, every machine connected to ARPANET had to use TCP/IP. TCP/IP became the core Internet protocol and replaced NCP entirely.
The University of Wisconsin created Domain Name System (DNS). This allowed packets to be directed to a domain name, which would be translated by the server database into the corresponding IP number. This made it much easier for people to access other servers, because they no longer had to remember numbers.
CSNET/ARPANET gateway is established.
Desktop workstations come into being, many with Berkeley UNIX which includes IP networking software.
Berkeley releases 4.2 BSD incorporating TCP/IP.
EARN (European Academic and Research Network) established. Very similar to the way BITNET works.
FidoNet developed by Tom Jennings.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, 56Kbps CSNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 562
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1984
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The ARPANET was divided into two networks: MILNET and ARPANET. MILNET was to serve the needs of the military and ARPANET to support the advanced research component, Department of Defense continued to support both networks. JANET (Joint Academic Network) is established in the UK.
Upgrade to CSNET was contracted to MCI. New circuits would be T-1 lines,1.5 Mbps which is twenty-five times faster than the old 56 Kbps lines. IBM would provide advanced routers and Merit would manage the network. New network was to be called NSFNET (National Science Foundation Network), and old lines were to remain called CSNET.
Domain Name Server (DNS) is introduced.
Moderated newsgroups are introduced on USENET.
The number of Hosts break the 1,000 mark.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, 56Kbps CSNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 1,024
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1985
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The National Science Foundation began deploying its new T-1 lines, which would be finished by 1988.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, 56Kbps CSNET, 1.544Mbps (T-1) NSFNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 1,961
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1986
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The Internet Engineering Task Force or IETF was created to serve as a forum for technical coordination by contractors for DARPA working on ARPANET, US Defense Data Network (DDN), and the Internet core gateway system.
NSFNET created (backbone speed of 56Kbps). NSF establishes 5 super-computing centers to provide high-computing power for all (Princeton, Pittsburgh, UCSD, UIUC, Theory Center). ARPANET bureaucracy keeps it from being used to interconnect centers and NSFNET comes into being with the aid of NASA and DOE. This allows an explosion of connections, especially from Universities.
Cleveland Freenet (start of NPTN) comes on-line.
Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) designed to enhance Usenet news performance over TCP/IP.
Mail Exchanger (MX) records developed by Craig Partridge allowing non-IP network hosts to have domain addresses.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, 56Kbps CSNET, 1.544Mbps (T-1) NSFNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 2,308
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1987
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BITNET and CSNET merged to form the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking (CREN), another work of the National Science Foundation.
NSF signs a cooperative agreement to manage the NSFNET backbone with Merit Network, Inc. IBM and MCI are involved through an agreement with Merit. Merit, IBM and MCI later found ANS.
UUNET is founded with Usenix funds to provide commercial UUCP and USEnet access.
The 1,000th RFC is released: "Request For Comments Reference Guide"
The number of hosts exceeds 10,000 and the number of BITNET hosts breaks 1,000.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, 56Kbps CSNET, 1.544Mbps (T-1) NSFNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 28,174
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1988
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Soon after the completion of the T-1 NSFNET backbone, traffic increased so quickly that plans immediately began on upgrading the network again.
Merit and its partners formed a not for profit corporation called ANS, Advanced Network Systems, which was to conduct research into high speed networking. It soon came up with the concept of the T-3, a 45 Mbps line. NSF quickly adopted the new network and by the end of 1991 all of its sites were connected by this new backbone.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is developed.
The Internet Worm burrows through the Net.
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Backbones: 50Kbps ARPANET, 56Kbps CSNET, 1.544Mbps (T-1) NSFNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 56,000
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1989
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The number of hosts breaks 100,000.
RIPE (Reseaux IP Europeens) is formed by European service providers to ensure the necessary administrative and technical coordination to allow the operation of the pan-European IP Network.
The first relay occurs between a commercial electronic mail carrier (Compuserve) and the Internet, through Ohio State University.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) comes into existence under the IAB.
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1990
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While the T-3 lines were being constructed, the Department of Defense disbanded the ARPANET and it was replaced by the NSFNET backbone. The original 50Kbs lines of ARPANET were taken out of service.
Tim Berners-Lee and CERN in Geneva implements a hypertext system to provide efficient information access to the members of the international high-energy physics community.
The second relay occurs, between a commercial electronic mail carrier (MCI Mail) and the Internet, through the Corporation for the National Research Initiative (CNRI).
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is formed by Mitch Kapor.
Archie is released. Files can now be searched for by name using FTP.
The World (world.std.com) becomes the first commercial provider of Internet dial-up access.
Hytelnet is released by Peter Scott of the University of Saskatchewan.
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Backbones: 56Kbps CSNET, 1.544Mbps (T-1) NSFNET, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 313,000
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1991
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CSNET (which consisted of 56Kbps lines) was discontinued having fulfilled its important early role in the provision of academic networking service. A key feature of CREN is that its operational costs are fully met through dues paid by its member organizations.
The NSF established a new network, named NREN, the National Research and Education Network. The purpose of this network is to conduct high speed networking research. It was not to be used as a commercial network, nor was it to be used to send a lot of the data that the Internet now transfers. NSF lifts restrictions on the commercial use of the Net.
Commercial Internet Exchange Association, Inc. (CIX) is formed by General Atomics (CERFnet), Performance Systems International, Inc. (PSInet), and UUNET Technologies, Inc. (AlterNet).
WAIS is released by Thinking Machines Corporation.
Gopher is released by Paul Lindner and Mark P. McCahill from the University of Minnesota.
US High Performance Computing Act (Gore 1) establishes the National Research and Education Network (NREN).
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Backbones: Partial 45Mbps (T-3) NSFNET, a few private backbones, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 617,000
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1992
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Internet Society is chartered.
World-Wide Web released by Tim Berners-Lee of CERN.
NSFNET backbone upgraded to T-3 (44.736Mbps). NSFNET traffic passes 1 trillion bytes/month and 10 billion packets/month.
JANET IP (JIPS) begins, using TCP/IP within the UK academic network.
The term "Surfing the Internet" is coined by Jean Armour Polly.
The number of hosts tops 1,000,000.
The first MBONE audio multicast (March) and the first video Multicast (November) on the Internet.
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Backbones: 45Mbps (T-3) NSFNET, private interconnected backbones consisting mainly of 56Kbps, 1.544Mbps, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 1,136,000
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1993
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InterNIC created by NSF to provide specific Internet services: directory and database services (by AT&T), registration services (by Network Solutions Inc.), and information services (by General Atomics/CERFnet).
Marc Andreessen and NCSA and the University of Illinois develops a graphical user interface to the WWW, called "Mosaic for X".
The U.S. White House, the United Nations and the World Bank come on-line.
Internet Talk Radio begins broadcasting.
The U.S. National Information Infrastructure Act is passed.
Mosaic takes the Internet by storm. The World Wide Web proliferates at a 341,634% annual growth rate of service traffic. Gopher's growth is 997%. Business and Media really take notice of the Internet.
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Backbones: 45Mbps (T-3) NSFNET, private interconnected backbones consisting mainly of 56Kbps, 1.544Mbps, and 45Mpbs lines, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 2,056,000
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1994
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No major changes were made to the physical network. The most significant thing that happened was the growth. Many new networks were added to the NSF backbone. Hundreds of thousands of new hosts were added to the INTERNET during this time period.
ARPANET/Internet celebrates its 25th anniversary.
ATM (Asynchronous Transmission Mode, 145Mbps) backbone is installed on NSFNET.
Pizza Hut offers pizza ordering on its Web page. First Virtual, the first cyberbank, opens. The first flower shop begins taking orders via the Internet. Shopping Malls arrive on the Internet.
Communities (Lexington and Cambridge, MA) begin to be wired up directly to the Internet. The U.S. Senate and House provide information servers.
Mass marketing finds its way to the Internet with mass e-mailings.
NSFNET traffic passes 10 trillion bytes/month.
WWW edges out telnet to become the 2nd most popular service, behind FTP, based upon the percentage of the traffic distribution on NSFNET.
Worms of a new kind find their way around the Internet; WWW Worm (W4), joined by Spiders, Wanderers, Crawlers, Snakes and more.
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Backbones: 145Mbps (ATM) NSFNET, private interconnected backbones consisting mainly of 56Kbps, 1.544Mbps, and 45Mpbs lines, plus satellite and radio connections - Hosts: 3,864,000
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1995
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