|
 |
|
 |
 |
Computer Networks (4th Edition)
|
by Andrew S. Tanenbaum
Sales Rank: 177510
|
List Price: $107.33
$85.86
At Amazon

|
|
Hardcover: 912 pages
Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 4 edition August 19, 2002
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0130661023
ISBN-13: 978-0130661029
Product Dimensions:
9.3 x 7.3 x 1.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
Product Review
This is the long-awaited 3rd Edition of Tanenbaum's classic book on computer networking. The finest network engineer I know (who was stolen from my previous employer by developers of IPv6) swears by this book, and it is arguably the best single resource for gaining a good technical understanding of modern networking in the mid 1990s. Very Highly Recommended.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Review
Read the entire review of this book.
Computer Networks won't save one minute over the next year. It has no step-by-step procedures, no problem solving sections, and no butt-saving tricks. The only purpose it can serve at a downed site is as a shield against thrown objects from frustrated users. Normally, theoretical books like this one receive a quick skim and are promptly sent to my for-looks-only tome tomb. However, this isn't a normal theoretical book. It's fascinating. In fact, I read it not once but three times. Tanenbaum fills over 700 pages with everything I didn't know, or better still, only thought I knew about networks. --Don Bryson, Dr. Dobb's Journal -- Dr. Dobb's Journal
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Customer Reviews & Comments
This review is from: Computer Networks (Hardcover)
I've been teaching Intro to Netwking for 7 years (half electrical engineering and half computer science students). I'm also a practicing network engineer in satellite (and ground) communications (15 years experience). Until this year (2001) I used Tanenbaum to teach my graduate level course, but this year I think I may have to abandon him. On the plus side the book is clearly written, well illustrated, combines both theory and practice, and is very well organized. I strongly endorse the layered approach both for teaching and for practice. On the negative side is Tanenbaum's relatively-poorly written physical layer. He also does not have a consistent approach to networking performance. But the biggest problem now is that since 1996, when this book was last updated, there has been a major shift due to the convergence of the telecommunications and computer networking (Voice over IP). Also the development of fiber optics has become a major factor. Finally, the convergence of wireless with the Internet is rapidly taking shape. These changes are touched on by parts of this book, but these changes are more than mere additions. They affect the fundamental engineering approaches used by network engineers. For example, statistical traffic models now cannot be ignored, availability (always a major topic in telecomm) must now be covered, the full implications of mixed traffic types must now be explored, multiplexing needs greater attention, scheduling is now essential, etc. Although it is NOT obvious that commercial voice will merge with the Internet, it is obvious that the future is VoIP (lots of implementation approaches). Tanenbaum still has a lot to offer. No other textbook is as well organized. This is the first duty of an author: to organize the topic. For example, I agree with Tanenbaum's putting ATM at the network layer even though in practice it is treated as a data link protocol (ATM obviously has a limited future). My recommendation to someone considering this textbook is that there is no "killer-textbook" in this area. If Tanenbaum updated this book, he could (in my est) ascend to the position. For now this should be supplemented with more up-to-date textbooks. Perhaps I'll consign my students to two textbooks this year (torturous), but for sure they need supplemental material. I refuse to allow my students to enter the networking world unprepared . The networking world is changing!
|
Computer Networks (4th Edition)
List Price: $107.33
Available from Amazon
Price: $85.86

| |
|
|
|
|