What is an Internet Service Provider?

Dial-up shell accounts

The user connects with a modem and phone line to a host machine at the ISP. The host machine is connected to the Internet; therefore, the user can access the Internet via the host machine.

All software needed for Internet access, such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is on the host machine, not the user's computer. Also, the user must use the client programs that reside on the host machine. For example, if the host uses a Lynx web browser and command line ftp, then the user must also use these tools.

[Diagram of user computer connecting to
host computer at ISP, which is in turn connected to the Internet.
Information obtained from the Internet is returned to the user via the
host computer at the ISP.]

Dial-up accounts provide access but cannot support graphical interfaces, as these must be run on the user's desktop computer.