Networking

Revision of the best selling applied introduction to networking.

Jeff Beasley is a professor with the Department of Engineering Technology at New Mexico State University. He has been teaching with the department since 1988 and is the co-author of Modern Electronic Communication and Electronic Devices and Circuits.

 

http://web.nmsu.edu/~jbeasley/

 

Networking, Second Edition Networking, Second Edition PrefaceThis book provides a comprehensive look at computer networking from the point of view of the network administrator. It guides readers from an entry-level knowledge in computer networks to advanced concepts in Ethernet networks, router configuration, TCP/IP networks, routing protocols, local, campus, and wide area network configuration, network security, wireless networking, optical networks, Voice over IP, the network server, Linux networking, and industrial networks. After covering the entire text, readers will have gained a solid knowledge base in computer networks.In my years of teaching, I have observed that technology students prefer to learn "how to swim" after they have gotten wet and taken in a little water. Then they are ready for more challenges. Show the students the technology, how it is used, and why, and they will take the applications of the technology to the next level. Allowing them to experiment with the technology helps them to develop a greater understanding. This book does just that. Organization of the TextThis text is designed to cover two semesters. The recommended chapters for the first semester are Chapters 1 to 8. Throughout the semester, the students will gain an appreciation of how basic computer networks and related hardware are interconnected to form a network. This involves understanding the concepts and issues of twisted-pair cable, interconnecting LANs, configuring TCP/IP, subnet masking, basic router configuration, and configuring routing protocols and wide area networking.Chapters 9 to 16 are recommended for the second semester--configuring and managing the campus network, network security, wireless LANs, and optical networks. The instructor can choose from the following topics to complete the semester: installing and configuring Windows 2008/2003 network server, Voice over IP, Linux configuration, and industrial networks. Key Pedagogical FeaturesChapter Outline, Objectives, Key Terms,andIntroductionat the beginning of each chapter clearly outline specific goals for the reader. An example of these features is shown in Figure P-1.Net-Challenge Softwareprovides a simulated, hands-on experience in configuring routers. Exercises provided in the text (see Figure P-2) and on the CD challenge readers to undertake certain router/network configuration tasks. The challenges check the students' ability to enter basic networking commands and to set up router function, such as configuring the interface (Ethernet and Serial) and routing protocols (that is, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, IGRP, RIP, and static). The software has the look and feel of actually being connected to the router's console port.Protocol Analyzer Softwarepackaged with the text uses the Finisar Surveyor Demo. Examples of using the software to analyze data traffic are included throughout the text, as shown in Figure P-3.Numerous worked-out examplesare included in every chapter to reinforce key concepts and aid in subject mastery, as shown in Figure P-3.Configuring, Analyzing, or Troubleshootingsections, as shown in Figure P-4, are included with each chapter to guide the reader through advanced techniques in networking.Key Termsand their definitions are highlighted in the margins to foster inquisitiveness and ensure retention. This is illustrated in Figure P-5.Extensive Summaries, Questions,andProblemsas well asCritical Thinking Questionsare found at the end of each chapter, as shown in Figure P-6.An extensiveGlossaryis found at the end of the book and offers quick, accessible definitions to key terms and acronyms, as well as an exhaustiveIndex(Figure P