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J277 1.3.1 The Internet, DNS, hosting and cloud services

Part 4 of 7 · J277 1.3 · Networks

One request followed from a browser to an online resource, taking in DNS, hosting and cloud services.

Students will:

  • describe the internet as a worldwide collection of networks
  • distinguish a web client from a web server
  • explain hosting
  • describe how DNS converts a domain name into an IP address
  • evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of cloud services

Inside: 4 text sections, 2 multiple-choice activities, 3 completion activities, 5 written answers. 20 marks. Suggested teaching time: 40–60 minutes. 1 diagram.

Includes a teacher guide with suggested sections, timings and common misconceptions.

Series: J277 1.3 · Networks, part 4 of 7.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 14 cells
  • About 45 minutes
  • CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Shared 17 Aug 2026
  • Updated 27 Oct 2026

Preview

The whole resource, exactly as a class sees it. Answers and marking are held back.

The Internet, DNS, hosting and cloud services

1. Networks and services

The Internet is a worldwide collection of connected computer networks. The World Wide Web is one service that uses those networks.

A web client, such as a browser, requests a page. A web server stores and provides pages. Hosting means storing a website or service on a server and making it available over a network. A file server instead provides file storage and retrieval.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which statement correctly describes the Internet and the World Wide Web?

  • AThe Internet is one web server
  • BThe Internet is connected networks; the Web is a service using them
  • CThe Web contains all physical network cables
  • DThe Internet connects devices only within one building
Fill in the blanks3 marks
A browser acts as a Answer 1 when it requests a page. The Answer 2 provides the page. Making a website available from a server is called Answer 3.
  • hosting
  • web server
  • web client
  • bandwidth

2. Find the server's address

People use domain names because they are easier to remember than IP addresses. A domain name is part of a website's URL.

The Domain Name Service (DNS) uses many Domain Name Servers. They store or locate records matching domain names to IP addresses.

  1. A browser may already have a saved, or cached, address. Otherwise it sends the domain name to a DNS server.
  2. DNS looks for the matching IP address in its records or cache. If needed, other DNS servers are contacted to find it.
  3. The address is returned to the browser. The browser can then request the page from the web server at that address.

DNS returns an address. The web server returns the page.

DNS returns an address, not a web page The browser sends a domain name to a DNS server. DNS returns its corresponding IP address to the browser. The browser then uses the address to request a page from the web server. DNS may contact other DNS servers to locate the address. Browser 1. Send domain name 2. Return IP address DNS server Then the browser requests the page from the web server, not DNS.
Fill in the blanks2 marks
A browser needs to locate a website. It sends the Answer 1 to DNS. DNS returns the matching Answer 2 to the browser.
Written answer4 marks

A browser does not have a website's IP address cached. Describe how DNS finds the address and returns it to the browser, including what can happen if the first DNS server cannot find it.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

DNS has returned the correct IP address to a browser. What happens next when the page is available?

  • ADNS sends the whole website to the user
  • BThe browser requests the page from the web server
  • CThe domain name becomes a MAC address
  • DThe browser no longer needs a network connection

3. Services supplied remotely

The cloud provides services from remote servers over a network, usually the Internet.

ServiceExample
StorageKeeping files on a provider's remote servers.
SoftwareUsing a provider's online document editor.
ProcessingAsking remote servers to process a large task.

Users may access the service from different places, work on shared files and increase capacity without buying their own server. A provider may handle maintenance, updates or backups, depending on the service.

Users also depend on the network and provider. A failed Internet connection or service outage can prevent access. Subscriptions can create ongoing costs, and users have less direct control over security, backups and where data is stored. Cloud services are not automatically less secure than local systems.

For example, an online editor lets a group work on one shared document, but an outage could stop that session.

Fill in the blanks3 marks
Choose the cloud service in each example. (a) Files kept on remote servers: Answer 1. (b) An online document editor: Answer 2. (c) Remote servers carry out a large calculation: Answer 3.
  • processing
  • storage
  • software
  • DNS
Written answer1 mark

State what is meant by a cloud service.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

A choir stores shared song files with a cloud provider. Its members practise at home as well as at rehearsals. Explain one benefit of using this service.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

A choir keeps its only copies of song files with a cloud provider. Explain one drawback of relying on this service.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer1 mark

A browser receives the correct IP address from DNS, but the website does not load. State one other possible cause of the failure.

Students type their answer here.

Review

Check one answer for a clear distinction between the server that finds an address and the server that provides a resource.