Ethernet is the most widely used standard for local area network communications. Addresses LAN planners' and managers' concerns about implementing or expanding an Ethernet network and features detailed discussion on network construction and management; network planning and design; preserving already-existing LANs; trouble-shooting tips; and connecting ''nonstandard'' computers.
This book is really complete. It has almost anything you need to know about Ethernet Networks. It is also written in a clear and understandable form. Buy it.
Surprising strengths, surprising weaknesses
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
I bought this book because I needed to learn some real details of constructing Ethernet networks, such as distance and hop limitations in mixed 10 and 100 BaseT installations. In this I was disappointed, as I found this portion of the book confusing, unclear and even self-contradictory in places. I was able to figure out what I needed to know, but that took a lot of rereading and extrapolation. The text has the feel of a book written by committee, with the same information repeated in various places with different degrees of clarity and from different points of view. The index is so limited as to be useless.On the other hand, the book contains an extensive introduction to IP and TCP (including their frame structures) and routing, nearly as extensive as the pure Ethernet sections. This was unexpected from the title, but I found it to be a technically strong starting point to making the jump from the details of Ethernet to what may be its major use, the transport of TCP/IP to and from the workstation. The extensive discussions on token ring networks and IBM's SNA were also unexpected, although not relevant to my personal needs. The book succeeds quite well in presenting an integration of the activities of network communication looking from the workstation out to the network. It's driven me to other sources for more detailed information in these areas.All in all, I found this to be a significant book in my studies. The next edition, in my opinion, would benefit greatly from a more descriptive title and the attention of a professional editor.
Pretty good
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
Solid, straight-forward. Perhaps too much coverage of 10base when most new ethernet books should concentrate on Fast or Gigabit (although coverage of those topics was adequate).
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