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mostly dealt with interconnecting mainframe and mini computers, as well as
maintaining local and remote serial data terminals. When LANs started to become
common in the 1980s, many of them were designed and managed not by network
engineers, but by computer support personnel. This condition occurred largely
because LANs were initially developed to interconnect personal computers and
workstations, which were perceived by many to be nothing more than toy
computers.
Early LAN technologies were by no means simple to implement. For many,
implementing these technologies involved a large learning curve. Today, LAN and
even WAN technologies have become much easier to implement. Advances have
shortened the learning curve required to get a network up and running. In many
cases, however, the lack of a real understanding of data networking fundamentals
and the various technologies involved becomes a significant issue when problems
arise. With this fact in mind, this book follows a "ground-up" approach, with each
chapter building on the one before. By the end of this book, you will know what you
need to build and manage a multiprotocol LAN or WAN. The following is a breakdown
of the coverage in each chapter. Keep in mind that the best way to read this book is
from beginning to end, because the chapters build on each other.
Chapter 1, "Understanding Networking Concepts," introduces the core
concepts of data networking. It defines the various types of computer networks. We
discuss the basics surrounding computer data transmission such as transmission
media, transmission techniques, network topologies, and components. The chapter
concludes with a discussion of various data communication models used for
reference and framing decisions about the various components of computer
networks.
Chapter 2, "The Networker's Guide to TCP/IP," provides a functional overview
of the TCP/IP networking protocol suite, perhaps the most widely used networking
protocol in use today. TCP/IP is available on virtually all computer hardware
platforms and provides networking connectivity for all the devices connected to the
global Internet. This chapter examines major TCP/IP protocols (IP, TCP, UDP, and
so on), their addressing, message format, and the services they provide.
Chapter 3, "The Networker's Guide to AppleTalk, IPX, and NetBIOS," covers
the popular proprietary local area networking protocols used with desktop-class
computers (Macintoshes and Intel-based PCs).
Chapter 4, "LAN Internetworking Technologies," examines 802.3 Ethernet,
802.5 Token Ring, and the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) local area
network data transmission protocols.
Chapter 5, "WAN Internetworking Technologies," covers general operation of
the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and various analog and digital