MouthShut.com Would Like to Send You Push Notifications. Notification may includes alerts, activities & updates.

OTP Verification

Enter 4-digit code
For Business
MouthShut Logo
Upload Photo

MouthShut Score

91%
3.91 

Readability:

Story:

×

Upload your product photo

Supported file formats : jpg, png, and jpeg

Address



Contact Number

Cancel

I feel this review is:

Fake
Genuine

To justify genuineness of your review kindly attach purchase proof
No File Selected

Me AnD A BooK(TechnicaL) RvU???
Nov 23, 2004 10:56 AM 5502 Views
(Updated Nov 23, 2004 10:56 AM)

Readability:

Story:

The title says it all-This rvu is not of a novel. It’s another of my technical book rvu’s so mite not interest many.


Introduction:


Title: Computer Networks.


Edition: Fourth


Author: Andrew S. Tanenbaum


Publisher: Prentice Hall India


Price: Rs.225/-(approx.)


Level: Beginner to advanced.


For all the network enthusiasts in the computer field this book mite not be unknown. The book is now in its fourth edition and all incorporates details about current technological trends. I haven’t read the whole book but completed most parts and I can give a brief idea about the chapters and data within briefly. The book is now about 900 pages


Chapter 1: Introduction


This chapter as every book has is the introduction to Computer Networks. A brief outline of where the networks are used, what r the hardware and software requirements for different computer networks. Following them is the introduction of Reference Models i.e. OSI and TCP/IP their comparison and different pointers thereof. Then a couple of real-life examples of Networks such as The Internet, Frame Relay and ATM, Ethernet and Wireless LAN: 802.11 is given. Then comes Network Standardization i.e. different people in different positions in different networks. Finally the chapter concludes with summary and gives a brief outline of what is presented in the rest of the book. People who are familiar with Networks can skip this one while beginners must read this chapter to know what this book basically deals with.


The book is based on using Hybrid Model for Computer Networks since the protocols of OSI didn’t become famous and TCP/IP cannot be regarded as a practically implementable model. So the model which is used in this book has the features of both OSI and TCP/IP and hence the name Hybrid Model.


Chapter 2: The Physical Layer


Now the real technical aspect of Networking starts. As the name suggests Physical meaning this chapter deals with the hardware part of the network. The chapter starts with introduction of data communication analysis i.e. Fourier transforms, Bandwidth criteria’s and MDR of the channel. Then comes the different types of media that are used for transmission e.g. Magnetic Media, twisted pair and the recent Fiber Optics. Now this chapter has included the newly emerged Wireless media the basis of communication in Mobile phones as well as Laptops. But this is not presented in this chapter directly. Here he explains where the EM spectrum and introduction to microwave, Infrared and Light wave transmission. He talks about Satellites and compares Satellites with Fiber-optics. Then he comes to PSTN (Public Switching Telephone Network), Mobile Telephone System and Cable Television(with reference to the Internet) and explains them briefly.


Chapter 3: The Data Link Layer


Chapter starts with the design issues and forms of Data Link Layer. What are the problems faced for this and what things to be kept in mind. Some primary data-link protocols are explained. Sliding Window Protocols and protocol verification are explained later. Finally HDLC-High Level Data Link Control and the Data Link Layer in Internet are explained in the last portion of the chapter.


Chapter 4: The Medium Access Control Sub-Layer


This is a long chapter based on the different types of Communication links in the Networks. Starts of with Channel Allocation problems (Those familiar with digital communication might be knowing this). Then Multiple Access Protocols (e.g. ALOHA, CSMA Protocols, Collision free Protocols, Wireless LAN Protocols are explained in this portion). Then comes a description of Ethernet, Wireless LANS (802.11), Broadband Wireless, Bluetooth Architecture, Data Link Switching and finally summary.


Chapter 5: The Network Layer


The chapter starts with design issues associated with Network Layer. Routing Algorithms, Congestion Control Algorithms, QoS(Quality of Service), Internetworking and the Network Layer in the Internet (IP protocol, IP Addresses, IC protocols etc, Mobile IP, IPv6) are all explained in this chapter.


Chapter 6: The Transport Layer


The chapter deals with description of The Transport Service (Socket programming that is), Elements of Transport Protocols, A Simple Transport Protocol, Inter Transport Protocols (UDP), The Internet Transport Protocol (TCP that is) are explained in detail. Finally the chapter ends with performance issues associated with Computer Networks which comprise of Network Performance Measurement, System design for better performance; Protocols for GB networks are explained theoretically.


Chapter 7: The Application Layer


DNS-The Domain Name system is explained in the beginning- a very important consideration for network in my opinion. What is what of E-mail is explained in detail then. Then comes the WWW (World Wide Web—Internet that is) and finally Multimedia is also explained in context to Internet e.g. compression techniques, Digital Audio, Radio, VoIP and introduction and detailing of Video is also given in this chapter.


Chapter 8: Network Security


My favorite chapter because currently network security is probably the biggest challenges that software companies and MNC’s are facing. Here a very long description of Network security issues is given. The chapter starts of with Cryptography, Symmetric-Key Algorithms, Public-Key Algorithms(RSA for e.g.), Digital signatures, Management of Public Keys, Communication security (firewalls for e.g.), Authentication Protocols, Email security, Web security, Social Issues are all explained in these chapter. Frankly speaking even though the author has tried to cover most of the aspects for network security but the details are limited. Since the book deals with whole of Computer Networks therefore the author has to take care of each and every concern. Network security is a vast topic and many books are entirely devoted to this topic only. But still this is a brief but useful description of Network Security.


Finally the Chapter 9 comprises of reading List and Bibliography. The author has given different books for different chapters in this book for further understanding of this topic. And lastly the index is give for easy searching.


In my opinion this is a good book for beginners and also it would be useful to advance users as well. But since the author tries to cover each and every aspect he sometimes misses giving real-life examples. But this is a good buy for people interested in knowing Networks.


Upload Photo

Upload Photos


Upload photo files with .jpg, .png and .gif extensions. Image size per photo cannot exceed 10 MB


Comment on this review

Read All Reviews

YOUR RATING ON

Computer Networks ( 3rd edition) - Andrew S. Tanenbaum
1
2
3
4
5
X