Computer Networks [Hardcover]

Andrew S. Tanenbaum (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0133499456 | ISBN-13: 978-0133499452 | Publication Date: March 6, 1996 | Edition: 3rd

Primarily intended for junior/senior or graduate level courses in computer networks, data networks, or distributed processing in CS or EE departments. Also useful (with selective omission of sections or chapters) for less advanced students. This is the first book that explains how computer networks work inside, from the hardware technology up to and including the most popular Internet application protocols. While students are not expected to have a background in computer networks or advanced mathematics, a general background in computer systems and programming is assumed.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com 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.

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

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 813 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3rd edition (March 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0133499456
• ISBN-13: 978-0133499452
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

129 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of Date, But Still a Good Start, July 6, 2001

By 

Don "Don" (Redondo Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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!

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The classical introduction to networking., February 5, 2001

By 

Uri Raz (Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Computer Networks (Hardcover)

When I just started working as a programmer, I came across the 2nd edition international student reprint of this book, in red softcover, at a students' bookshop, and bought it. I treasure that copy in my library to this day - it gave me a solid background in computer networking that served me well in the past and is an asset that will serve me in the future.

Previous reviews have mentioned Tanenbaum's excellent and concise writing style and the breadth of the material covered, which are two of the good qualities that made this book a classic.

What wasnt mentioned and I consider important is :

- The bottom up explanation of networking, starting with the physical layer, up through the OSI layers (link layer, network layer, transport layer) to the application layer. This structure makes it very clear how networks work, how they are designed, and why.

- The well made balance between broad coverage of topics and the depth of coverage of each topic. After reading this book it's easy to start studying in depth any subtopic covered in this book (e.g. TCP/IP through Comers' books) as the reader knows how the subtopic fits in the big picture and knows enough to make a smooth start.

Some previous reviewers asked about solutions to problem, so I'll note that this book does have booklet with problem solutions, which is apparently made available only to academical staff [ and people mistaken to be such :-) ].

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any type of network related job, students who study networking, and anyone who wants to study computer networking.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read, August 21, 2000

By 

Ruben André de Franco Badaró (Lisbon, Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Networks (Hardcover)

This is probably the most complete and in depth theoretical approach to Computer Networks book you can buy.

The structure of this book is based mainly on the OSI Reference Model which is divided in 7 different layers. Each chapter in the book is dedicated to a layer, in this way, one can get an insight of a broad variety of subjects such as IEEE standards (Ethernet, Token Ring, etc,), Congestion control and routing Algorithms, network and transport layer protocols (IP, TCP and UDP) and many more topics.

As a complement you should read Richard Stevens TCP/IP Illustrated, volume 1 for a more practical approach to TCP, UDP and IP.

The best book for beginner, intermediate and advanced users.