Is the Internet software or hardware?

Answer 1

The internet is a network of both hardware and software.

The internet is made of many computers (thousands if not millions).

Many of these computers act as servers of information. They are web servers that let you receive information in your web browser to find out things, buy things, sell thing, etc; ftp servers that let you download files (and upload them); email servers that manage email messages going from one place to another; DHCP type servers which distribute IP addresses from your internet vendor (ISP), DNS (or BIND) servers which keep track of what domain name (microsoft.com) is really which IP address; and many other servers that perform other functions.

Most other computers on the internet are your standard client machine in your home or place of work. They use a web browser, an email programs. and other programs that communicate with servers and even with other client machines.

Then there are phones, tablets, fitbits and other devices we don't call computers but really are. The whole IOT (internet of Things) still in its infancy.

All these computers are linked together with cables, wires, fiber optics, radio transmission (WiFi and Bluetooth) and whatever else technology come up with. Lots of it.

All this needs to be managed and controlled. An infrastructure was designed to do this with computers, routers, and the software that they use.

Names of places:

Although we use Domain Names like microsoft.com and ibm.com to reach web sites, that isn't really how to find them. Their actual internet address is a numeric address called an IP (Internet Protocol) address. Names are just easier to remember. Anyone can inexpensively create and buy an available domain name. When you buy a name and officially link it to an IP address, you are entering it into the Domain Name System (DNS). An organization called ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) manages and polices domain name usage.

DNS is a registry of what Domain Name is linked to what IP address. The registry is made of hundreds of name server computers worldwide that decide which machine has what information. When a new Domain Name is added to the system, the information is passed on to other name server machines.

Every computer that uses the internet has access to one or more DNS servers supplied by their ISP or managed internally in their own network. When a computer wants to access ibm.com, it sends a request to its DNS server. If it does not have the information, the request is passed on to other name servers until a reply is received. Eventually, an IP address is obtained, if it exists, and the computer can try to connect to the desired machine using its ip address.

Addresses of places.

An organization called IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) has the job of distributing available internet IP addresses to five regional organizations that request them: AFRINIC-Africa Region, APNIC-Asia/Pacific Region, ARIN-Canada, USA, and some Caribbean Islands, LACNIC-Latin America and some Caribbean Islands, RIPE NCC-Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. These organizations give out IP addresses mainly to ISPs. ISPs use DHCP servers to dynamically assign IP addresses to users (cable, fios, dialup) when they connect. Those who pay (a lot) more might get one or more static (permanent) IP address to use for servers.

What address is where

Different regions have different internet network addresses allocated. Internet messages are split into smaller packets before being sent to the local router or your local ISP's router. All internet access providers have routers (or gateways or intermediate systems) that communicate and exchange controlling information with other neighboring gateways. They maintain tables of what ip adresses are near them, what ip address are not near them but can be reached by which local gateway. The gateways all work together, telling each other what ip addresses are near them. When a gateway rceeives a packet, it passes it on to a local destination or to another gateway closer to the destination.

Hardware is the actual components of your computer, for example, the processor. The network card used to connect to the internet is hardware, but not the internet itself.

Software is your programs. Your internet browser is a program, because it runs on your operating system, which runs on your hardware. That's a short explanation.