Building on the successful top-down approach of previous editions, the Fourth Edition of Computer Networking continues with an early emphasis on application-layer paradigms and application programming interfaces, encouraging a hands-on experience with protocols and networking concepts. With this edition, Kurose and Ross bring the issues of network security to the forefront, along with integration of the most current and relevant networking technologies. Computer Networks and the Internet; Application Layer; Transport Layer; The Network Layer; The Link Layer and Local Area Networks; Wireless and Mobile Networks; Multimedia Networking; Security in Computer Networks; Network Management. For all readers interested in computer networking technologies.
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.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Good introductory book - easy to read but can be a bit wordy at times:
This is a good introductory book. It gives board coverage of all important areas of computer networking. Easy to read and it has been kept up-to-date with every edition with the changes in the field. My minor complaints are (i) that each chapter is quite long; (ii) it gets overly wordy at times but it does help to reinforce what you just learned; (iii) it is hard to review the material (after you have read through it once) because too many materials are crammed into each topic.
Greate book, Computer networking:
This is a very good book for someone who is thinking of going into
computer networking. The price was right,the service was great. Bought this book for my grandson who is thinking of going into this field. He has
been reading it ever since.
Good book and good seller:
The book was required for computer networking course. Good book to know the basics. Book delivered on time and in good condition. Would like to buy more stuff from this seller.
Most readable book in my entire CS curriculum:
Lots of other reviewers have said it so I won't go on at length, but this is a fantastic book. Very easy to read, while still presenting gobs of information. Authors have a great sense of humor. They are able to make the broad concepts as well as the nitty gritty of networking crystal clear, without undue effort from the reader. Highly recommended.
