Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (4th Edition)

This book is a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience!!! I bought this book before Christmas out of curiosity and out of a potential need to learn more about computer networking and brush up on it when asked about it on a technical interview.Since I already had certified as a Java Enterprise Architect, which required knowledge of Java 2 Network Security and protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, IIOP, JRMP, I had some limited, specialized knowledge of network protocols. However, this book really gave me much more background on the Internet than I had anticipated and it broadened my perspective about future technology developments, which will probably continue to be born out of the Internet. Should it be no surprise that a language such as Java, which started out as a network programming language has become much more than that? No doubt the Internet has proven to be much larger of an influence in the world than ever expected. For example, years ago I remember reading about the seven-layer ISO OSI reference model using in data communications in telecommunications. This book made it clear that this has all been compacted into a five-layer Internet protocol stack. Something arcane and mystical has been simplified and is very public domain.This book covers the five-layer protocol stack: Application Layer, Transport Layer, Network Layer, Link Layer, and Physical Layer. I thought I might be turned off by some of the geeky topics in the network protocols, but instead I found them quite tasty too and I gobbled up the whole book.The introduction chapter outlined most of the topics covered in later chapters such as each of the layer protocols and then topics that build on them such as security, wireless and mobile networks, multimedia networking, and network management.Some of my major learning experiences included: DSL, circuit switching, packet switching, application protocols, DNS servers, socket programming using either TCP or UDP, building reliable data transfer protocols such as TCP, TCP congestion control, routers, IPv4 and IPv6, routing algorithms, designing subnet IP addresses, network interface cards/MAC addresses, Ethernet protocol details, and then some.I also used the book's programming assignment downloads, and Ethernet Wireshark labs, study guides and self-assessment tests. All of this really anchors and expands upon the topics covered in each chapter. This book and the online learning aids was more fun and brain expanding than sudoku puzzles!

Excellent book, a lot of information. However knows about Networking it is not easy to understand and learn. This is a very good intro book. No a lot of coding but a lot of info how networks work. You can also download Power Point Presentations of each chapter, very well done. The authors put a lot of time on this book. Excersises are a little challenge, it didn't get five stars because this book has no answers of the questions (authors should put odd answers)

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.

Coming from an Electronic Engineering Background and having passed the CCNA exam i wanted to fill in some of the networking gaps as I'm not from an IT background. I've found this book gave an excellent explanantion on Application level and Security which are not covered in the CCNA. This is an excellent reference book for all 7 layers of the OSI model and would highly recommend it for people migrating into a networking role or wishing to gain a solid understanding of networking fundamentals.

As a student who used this as a textbook, I might have a different perspective than you are expecting. I would guess, however, that this book is used primarily as a textbook for college courses.What I liked about this book:- Plenty of helpful images (lots of diagrams)- Nice segmentation of information (logicial and digestable sections)- Usually easy (to understand) reading- Straight forward (easy) and seemingly important review questions and problems (at the end of every chapter)What I did not like:- Sometimes a little indirect- Sometimes quite boring (but this shoud be expected when you are reading about network protocols and mechanisms)So, as a textbook, I think it was actually pretty good, but I would find little use for it outside of my college course because it is too indirect and too conceptual to be useful for reference and it is too dry (boring) to keep as reading material (unless you are one really freaky nerd).

This is a very good book for someone who is thinking of going intocomputer networking. The price was right,the service was great. Bought this book for my grandson who is thinking of going into this field. He hasbeen reading it ever since.

This is.a pretty decent text. The concepts are laid out well and analogies are a big help in relating how the concepts work to everyday experiences. The only drawback is that there are often no worked through examples for equations, and the end of chapter questions relate to concepts that are not described in depth enough in the chapters to allow for the question to be answered clearly, if at all.

A classic, 95% of it is still applicable, will give you a firm foundation before moving on to Odom Wendel's CCNA books. A must read/study for any IT professional or technology enthusiast.