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 | | Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet by James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross ISBN-10: 9780201477115 ISBN-10: 0-201-47711-4 ISBN-13: 9780201477115 ISBN-13: 978-0-201-47711-5 Hardcover 2000-07-10 Addison Wesley Publishing Company Find Lowest Price |
Editorials | ||
Amazon.com Certain data-communication protocols hog the spotlight, but all of them have a lot in common. Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet explains the engineering problems that are inherent in communicating digital information from point to point. The top-down approach mentioned in the subtitle means that the book starts at the top of the protocol stack--at the application layer--and works its way down through the other layers, until it reaches bare wire. The authors, for the most part, shun the well-known seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) protocol stack in favor of their own five-layer (application, transport, network, link, and physical) model. It's an effective approach that helps clear away some of the hand waving traditionally associated with the more obtuse layers in the OSI model. The approach is definitely theoretical--don't look here for instructions on configuring Windows 2000 or a Cisco router--but it's relevant to reality, and should help anyone who needs to understand networking as a programmer, system architect, or even administration guru. The treatment of the network layer, at which routing takes place, is typical of the overall style. In discussing routing, authors James Kurose and Keith Ross explain (by way of lots of clear, definition-packed text) what routing protocols need to do: find the best route to a destination. Then they present the mathematics that determine the best path, show some code that implements those algorithms, and illustrate the logic by using excellent conceptual diagrams. Real-life implementations of the algorithms--including Internet Protocol (both IPv4 and IPv6) and several popular IP routing protocols--help you to make the transition from pure theory to networking technologies. --David Wall Topics covered: The theory behind data networks, with thorough discussion of the problems that are posed at each level (the application layer gets plenty of attention). For each layer, there's academic coverage of networking problems and solutions, followed by discussion of real technologies. Special sections deal with network security and transmission of digital multimedia. | ||
Product Description The most up-to-date introduction to the field of computer networking, this book's top-down approach starts at the application layer and works down the protocol stack. It also uses the Internet as the main example of networks. This all creates a book relevant to those interested in networking today. By starting at the application-layer and working down the protocol stack, this book provides a relevant introduction of important concepts. Based on the rationale that once a reader understands the applications of networks they can understand the network services needed to support these applications, this book takes a "top-down" approach that exposes readers first to a concrete application and then draws into some of the deeper issues surrounding networking. This book focuses on the Internet as opposed to addressing it as one of many computer network technologies, further motivating the study of the material. This book is designed for programmers who need to learn the fundamentals of computer networking. It also has extensive material making it of great interest to networking professionals. | ||
Reviews | ||
One of the best books on computer networks Certainly the best INTRODUCTORY book on computer networks. And ONE of the two best books on computer networks (the other being Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, however the two are written in a very different style.) Brilliant work! The book describes computer networks in an very very interesting manner, with practical real world scenarios and examples, explaining how things works in real world with examples of internet, together with very interesting notes on great events in the computer networks field. The fundamental networking concepts are described and explained in a great way. The figures are outstanding helping in understanding the thoery even more. As the title suggests the chapters discuss network stack layers top to down, i.e., the first chapter dicusses the Application layer, and so on. However regarding the contents, I think Andrew S. Tanenbaum's book covers more which is also due to the fact that this book is written with Internet as an example, therefore it mostly covers the major topics in the computer networks. The topics are explained in very much detail. However for this reason, this book may not be ideal for someone who wants a quick revision of the network concepts. In a way, a negative point of the book is that sometimes it is overloaded with too much unnecessary information. Very highly recommended! Dont think, go for it, especially it if it is your first book on computer networks. | ||
Good book for starting out in networking This is a great book if you are starting out in the computer networking field. It is also a good compliment to "Computer Networks" by Andrew Tanenbaum. This is not a book for someone well versed with the basic concepts as it lacks the depth and details. This book looks at the networking concepts from the software engineer/ computer science perspective rather than computer engineer/ electrical engineer one. It explains many of the concepts with very simple everyday analogies and the simple language makes it very readable. The book does miss out on many emerging technologies, like sensor networks, mesh networks, etc. Also the lower OSI layers like physical, MAC lack the details and information worthy of a basic book. The application, transport and network layers are covered well since this a primarily a software engineer's look at networking. Overall, its a good book for beginers(specially for computer science) but not for intermediate or experts in the field . | ||
Fast Service I bought this book for my son in college...if anything...thank you for the great service and fast shipment..it made it prior to the start of his class.. | ||
Great Book I like the book very much. It is very up-to-date on emerging technologies and very explanatory. However, I was expecting to see solutions to exercises. A great book indeed. | ||
nice that they use 5 layers instead of 7 [A review of the 3rd Edition.] Kudos to the authors for eschewing the traditional 7 layer description of the Internet. Too complex. Instead, they give a clear and pragmatic understanding of 5 layers. Physical, data link, network, transport and application. A very logical subdivision. From this flows the User Datagram Protocol and TCP/IP. At the network layer, there is a good airing of common routing algorithms, used by Cisco and others. Including broadcast and multicast routing. These are very efficient methods of using the available bandwidth; especially for applications like video being viewed by many people. Wireless and mobile networks also get a mention. Important since in the developing world, more people are likely to have a cellphone than a computer. There are different issues here, compared to fixed landline networks. Like mobility management. The only possible drawback about the text is the brief discussion on IPv6, the next generation Internet. If you need a comprehensive discussion, seek a different book. | ||