Introduction to IP Routing

Abstract

The structure of the global Internet can be likened to a loose coalition of semi-autonomous constituent networks. Each of these networks operates with its own policies, prices, services and customers. Each network makes independent decisions about where and how to secure supply of various components that are needed to create the network service. With all this independent freedom of decision how is it that the result is one of an apparently cohesive network, rather than a disparate collection of isolated islands of local connectivity?