Rating:  - OVERVIEW OF BASIC CONNECTIONS
This book, "How Networks Work" is a basic overview of how a typical computer networking apparatus functions. As everything goes online these days, computer networking has truly become a way of life. And, there are fewer better ways to get initiated than acquiring and dissecting (the contents of) this well-written book.
Beginners are its primary audience. Hence, it is understandable that advanced learners are often pissed-off by its rather elementary lacklustre approach to relatively complex issues. Still, this seventh edition did a good job in explaining how high-speed networks are revolutionizing businesses and entertainments.
Using easy-to-follow presentations and narrations, the author of "How Networks Work" unmasked the mysteries shrouding both client and server hardwares. The same treatment applies to network operating systems, LANs and WANs, as well as DSL and ISDN connections. It also dealt with all the basics of business/enterprise network requirements and maintainance: including broadband, routers, integration, encryption, and security concerns.
In a nutshell, this book parades all the essential ingredients, which any newbie would need in order to gain solid foundation in computer networking and security.
Rating:  - Simple, Clear Explanations
This book keeps things pretty basic. I have a two year degree in Computer Networking and there was nothing new to me. This book, however, would be appropriate for anyone who was looking for a quick intro and brief description of how "networks" work. It starts with "how the first telephone worked" up through "DSL is a broadband internet connection for consumers". The graphics are very well done and are helpful when describing how things work.
I would recommend this for very basic introduction to networks and telecommunications only.
Rating: - How Networks Work
Lots of good basic information and concepts. Excellent colored pictures and diagrams to supplement the information. We are using this book and "How Wireless Works" in our classroom and getting good feedback from the students.
Rating:  - Great Business Person's Book of Networking
Buying this book was the smarted business investment I have ever made. If you are a business person needing to understand your technical team's conversation about your computer network, then this book is for you!
It allowed me to be able to understand networking problems and opportunities that affect my business. Before I read this book, I was not able to intelligently make purchase decisions about technical equipment or services that my IT department would recommend.
Since reading this book, I can now hide the fact that I am not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to technology. ;-)
Rating: - nice VOIP and p2p explanations
The Internet is a special kind of computer network, though by now the most important. But have you ever puzzled at the innards of it or any other network? The problem is that most explanatory texts are aimed at the computer professional. And indeed, often for someone planning to specialise in writing applications to run on that network.
Derfler and Freed write for a different and far broader audience. They do not assume that you are a professional programmer, or plan to become one. So the jargon is not as impenetratable as in other texts. Plus, a distinguishing feature of this book is the skillful and generous use of diagrams, to illustrate ideas in the text. Takes a lot of the abstraction out of the problem of learning the material.
Furthermore, this edition contains explanations of 2 very hot topics. Voice over IP, which gives the potential of cheap (free?) phone calls. And peer-to-peer networks. For the latter, two cases are covered - with a central server, and without. Refreshingly, the example usages are not of copying music or video. To show that, yes, there are good usages of p2p networks.
|
