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Once again, this now-classic textbook has been revised to keep it
up-to-date with our evolving field. While the Internet and its protocols
now dominate networking everywhere, we see continued evolution
in the technology used to support the Internet, with switching at “layer 2”
providing rich functionality and powerful tools for network management.
The previous edition dealt with switching and routing in two chapters,
but a presentation based on layers is not always the best way to convey
the essentials of the material, since what we call switching and routing
actually play similar and complementary roles. This edition of the book
looks at these topics in an integrated way, which brings out their functional
similarities and differences. More advanced topics in routing have
been moved to a second chapter that can be skipped, depending on the
emphasis and level of the class.
I have never been a fan of teaching networking basedona purely layered
approach,asmyforewordtothefirsteditionindicated(we’vereprintedit in
this edition just for fun.) Somekey issues in networking, including security
and performance, cannot be solved by assigning them to one layer—there
cannot be a “performance” layer. These sorts of topics are both critical and
cross-cutting, and the organization of this book continues to treat topics,
aswell as layers. The organization of this book reflects a great deal of experience
using it as a classroom textbook, and as well a preference for an
approach that brings out fundamentals as well as current practice.
Some moribund technologies are nowmissing or minimized, including
token ring (one of my old favorites, but clearly it was time to go) and ATM.
This edition recognizes that we need to pay more attention to application
design, and not just packet forwarding. Wireless and mobility gets more
attention as well.
The authors, once again, have worked hard to produce a revision that
conveys the essentials of the field in a way that is pedagogically effective.
I am pleased to say that I think it is better than ever. |
