BBA

E-Commerce

Week 5:
E-Commerce Technologies
Contents

Networking

Internet vs. Intranet
 Website Styles

Internet Technologies & Enablers
 Protocols
 Routers
 Servers
 ISPs
 Firewalls

Management Information Systems (MIS)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Networking

A computer network is any
set of computers or devices
connected to each other
with the ability to exchange
data.

Computer networking is the

discipline concerned with
communication between
computer systems or
devices.
Types of Networks

Local area network (LAN): which is usually a small network constrained to
a small geographic area. For example at home, office, or small group of
buildings, such as a school, or an airport etc.

Wide area network (WAN): that is usually a large network that covers a
greater geographic area (For example, any network whose communications
links cross metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries). The largest and
most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.

Wireless LANs and WANs

(WLAN & WWAN):
are the wireless equivalent
of the LAN and WAN.

Other Terminologies:
 PAN – Personal Area Network
 CAN – Campus Area Network
 MAN – Metropolitan Area Network
Internet

The Internet is a global network of
interconnected computers, enabling
users to share information along
multiple channels.

Typically, a computer that connects

to the Internet can access
information from a vast array of
available servers and other
computers by moving information
from them to the computer's local
memory.

The same connection allows that

computer to send information to
servers on the network.
Internet

It is a "network of networks" that
consists of millions of private and
public, academic, business, and
government networks of local to
global scope that are linked by
copper wires, fibre-optic cables,
wireless connections, and other
technologies.

Computer users typically manage sent and received

information with web browsers; other software for users'
interface with computer networks includes specialized
programs for electronic mail, online chat and file sharing etc.
 Intranet

An intranet is a private computer network that
uses Internet technologies to securely share
any part of an organization's information or
operational systems with its employees.

An intranet is built from the same concepts

and technologies used for the Internet, such
as client-server computing and the Internet
Protocol Suite (TCP/IP). Any of the well known
Internet protocols may be found in an intranet,
such as HTTP (web services), SMTP (Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol – used for e-mail), and
FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

Internet technologies are often deployed to provide modern interfaces to legacy

information systems hosting corporate data.

An intranet can be understood as a private version of the Internet, or as a private

extension of the Internet confined to an organization. The first intranet websites
and home pages began to appear in organizations in 1990 - 1991.
Website Styles

Static website
 A static website is one that has
web pages stored on the server
in the same form as the user will
view them. It is primarily coded
in HTML (Hyper-text Markup
Language).

 A static website may include

information about a company and
its products and services via text,
photos, Flash animation,
audio/video and interactive menus and navigation.

 Similar to handing out a printed brochure to customers or clients, a

static website will generally provide consistent, standard information for
an extended period of time.

 Although the website owner may make updates periodically, it is a

manual process to edit the text, photos and other content and may
require basic website design skills and software.
Website Styles

Dynamic website
 A dynamic website is one that does not have web pages stored on the
server in the same form as the user will view them. Instead, the web
page content changes automatically and/or frequently based on certain
criteria. It generally collates information each time a page is requested.

 The main purpose behind a dynamic website is that it is much simpler to

maintain a few web pages plus a database than it is to build and update
hundreds or thousands of individual web pages and links.

 A dynamic website refers to the

code used to create a single web
page. A dynamic web page is
generated on the fly by piecing
together certain blocks of code,
procedures or routines.
Protocols

A protocol is a convention or standard that controls or
enables the connection, communication, and data transfer
between computing endpoints.

In its simplest form, a protocol can be defined as the rules

governing the syntax, semantics, and synchronization of
communication.

Protocols may be
implemented by hardware,
software, or a combination
of the two.

It can also be defined as

the process of
handshaking between two
nodes.
Protocols

Examples of commonly used protocols:

 IP (Internet Protocol)
 TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
 HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
 FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
 POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3)
 SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
 IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
Routers

A router is a networking device whose software and hardware are usually
tailored to the tasks of routing and forwarding information. For example, on
the Internet, information is directed to various paths by routers.

It is a device that forwards data packets along networks and is connected to

at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP’s
network.

Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks
connect.

Routers use headers and

forwarding tables to determine
the best path for forwarding
the packets, and they use
protocols to communicate with
each other and configure the
best route between any two
hosts.
Routing Internet Messages
Domain Names & URLs

Domain name
 IP address expressed in natural language

Domain name system (DNS)

 System for expressing numeric IP addresses in
natural language

Uniform resource locator (URL)

 The address used by a Web browser to identify
the location of content on the Web
Client/Server Computing

Client/Server
 A model of computing in which very powerful personal
computers are connected together in a network with one or
more servers.

Client
 A very powerful personal computer
that is part of a network. They are
capable of displaying rich graphics,
storing large files, and processing
graphics and sound files.

Server
 Networked computer dedicated to
common functions that the client
machines on the network need,
such as storing files, software
applications, utility programs such
as Web connections, and printers.
The Client/Server Model
Servers

A server is any combination of
hardware or software designed to
provide services to clients.

When used alone, the term typically

refers to a computer which may be
running a server operating system, but
is commonly used to refer to any
software or dedicated hardware capable
of providing services.

It is usually a heavy-duty computer

designed to be the core of a network. It
does not have any special hardware in
it, but it is designed to work
continuously for long periods under
heavy workloads to control the network
and run the network operating system.
Server Types

File Server

Print Server

Web Server

Application Server

Proxy Server

Mail Server

IRC Server (Internet Relay Chat)

Audio/Video Server
Firewall

A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block
unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.

It is a device or set of devices configured to permit, deny, encrypt, decrypt, or

proxy all computer traffic between different security domains based upon a
set of rules and other criteria.

Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a

combination of both.

Firewalls are frequently used to prevent

unauthorized Internet users from
accessing private networks connected
to the Internet, especially intranets.

All messages entering or leaving the

intranet pass through the firewall, which
examines each message and blocks
those that do not meet the specified
security criteria.
ISPs

An Internet service provider (ISP, also called Internet
access provider, IAP) is a company that offers its
customers access to the Internet. The ISP connects to
its customers using a data transmission technology
such as:
 Dial-up
 DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
 Cable Modem
 Wireless

ISPs may provide Internet e-mail accounts to users

which allow them to communicate with one another by
sending and receiving electronic messages through
their ISPs' servers.

ISPs may provide other services such as remotely

storing data files on behalf of their customers, as well
as other services unique to each particular ISP.
Management Information Systems

Management Information Systems (MIS) is the term given to the
discipline focused on the integration of computer systems with the aims
and objectives on an organisation.

When information systems are designed to provide information needed

for effective decision making by managers, they are called management
information systems.

MIS is a formal system for providing management with accurate and

timely information necessary for decision making.

An MIS is a subset of the overall internal controls

of a business covering the application of people,
documents, technologies, and procedures by
management accountants to solving business
problems such as costing a product, service or a
business-wide strategy.
Management Information Systems

Academically, the term ‘MIS’ is
commonly used to refer to the
group of information management
methods tied to the automation or
support of human decision
making. Examples are, Decision
Support Systems, Expert
systems, and Executive
information systems.

MIS make use of a knowledge

base which is a special kind of
database used for knowledge
management. It provides the
means for the computerized
collection, organization, and
retrieval of knowledge.