Content Networking: Architecture, Protocols, and Practice (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Networking) [Hardcover]

Markus Hofmann (Author), Leland R. Beaumont (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1558608346 | ISBN-13: 978-1558608344 | Publication Date: March 1, 2005 | Edition: 1

As the Internet has grown, so have the challenges associated with delivering static, streaming, and dynamic content to end-users. This book is unique in that it addresses the topic of content networking exclusively and comprehensively, tracing the evolution from traditional web caching to today's open and vastly more flexible architecture. With this evolutionary approach, the authors emphasize the field's most persistent concepts, principles, and mechanisms--the core information that will help you understand why and how content delivery works today, and apply that knowledge in the future.

+ Focuses on the principles that will give you a deep and timely understanding of content networking.
+ Offers dozens of protocol-specific examples showing how real-life Content Networks are currently designed and implemented.
+ Provides extensive consideration of Content Services, including both the Internet Content Adaptation Protocol (ICAP) and Open Pluggable Edge Services (OPES).
+ Examines methods for supporting time-constrained media such as streaming audio and video and real-time media such as instant messages.
+ Combines the vision and rigor of a prominent researcher with the practical experience of a seasoned development engineer to provide a unique combination of theoretical depth and practical application.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding the rationale and technology driving the evolution of the Web. I especially liked the way the authors tie together the various elements and protocols that make up content distribution systems over the Web."
--Prof. Dr. Ralf Steinmetz, Head of Multimedia Communications Lab (KOM), Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany

"Finally, there is a comprehensive and authoritative text on all aspects of content delivery networking, the true Intelligent Network of the Internet! I will certainly use this book in teaching graduate students."
--Igor Faynberg, Technical Manager, Internet Standards, Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies, and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Stevens Institute of Technology

"This book closes a major gap in current literature: it gives a comprehensive overview of all aspects of content delivery networks. It is easy to read, yet provides an in-depth understanding of the algorithms and communication protocols involved."
--Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Effelsberg, University of Mannheim, Director, Computer Networks and Multimedia Technology Research Group

Book Description

A reference guide providing a systematic and architectural view of the content delivery and content services field.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1 edition (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558608346
• ISBN-13: 978-1558608344
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you read only one book on Content Networking, READ THIS ONE!, November 27, 2005

By 

A Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Content Networking: Architecture, Protocols, and Practice (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Networking) (Hardcover)

This is a fabulous book. It is well-written (enjoyable to read and sometimes even entertaining), well organized, and technically competent - it's a real delight. The book certainly is a keeper and a re-read for everyone who needs to understand how content is delivered over the Web/Internet.

If you're looking for a complete and detailed reference to the HTTP protocol, this is not the book for you. But if you're interested in learning and understanding the fundamentals underlying the Web and content delivery over the Internet, this is the book you want to read. Ever wondered why it takes seconds or even minutes to load certain Web pages or access audio/video files? The book does not only give the answer, but explains how these problems can be overcome. Hofmann and Beaumont focus on explaining the core principles and the fundamentals underlying these solutions, giving you a broad understanding that will be helpful and valuable for years to come. They master connecting the various dots and explain extremely well how all the little pieces fit together. When reading the book, your quickly feel that Hofmann and Beaumont know what they're writing about, that they worked in this field and have lots of "real-life" experience that mixes skillfully with their research background. Overall, an excellent book that should be on book shelf of everyone interested in the Web and in delivering content and services over the Internet.

Also check out their companion Web page at http://www.content-networking.com.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DRIVING THE CONTENT NETWORKING EVOLUTION, August 13, 2005

By 

John R. Vacca "Tech Write Independent Reviewer" (Pomeroy, Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Content Networking: Architecture, Protocols, and Practice (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Networking) (Hardcover)

While the specific protocols, interfaces, and languages used in content networking will continue to evolve and change, it is expected that the core principles and concepts underlying content networks will remain valid for a long time. Authors Markus Hofmann and Leland R. Beaumont have done an outstanding job on focusing on the principles and attempts to explain and evaluate content networking in this book.

Hofmann and Beaumont begin this book by explaining the notion of content networking and establishing the key concepts. Next, the authors explain the core principles that guided the design of the Internet, which leads into a discussion of how content networking is transported over the Internet. In addition, the authors show how Web caching is used to bring static content networking closer to the users and how this helps in improving content delivery over the Internet. They also include streaming media such as audio and video. Then, they deal with the question of how user requests actually get to the server or Web cache best suited to serve each user. The authors then introduce the new concept of peer-to-peer networks, in which the traditional client-server model of the Web is replaced with a federation of end-systems that help each other in delivering content networking. Next, they extend the notion of content networking to include delivery of interactive media, such as instant messaging. Then, they go on to describe Content Services. The authors continue by bringing you the various technologies and network elements together, and explain how they can be deployed to build content networks for specific needs. Next, they provide an overview of the various standards activities relevant to the field on content networking, and explain which efforts are on interest for each specific area. Finally, they summarize their journey through the evolution of content networks and attempt to provide an outlook of what the future might bring.

With the preceding in mind, the authors have done an excellent job of focusing this book on the architectures and protocols specific to content networks. At the end of the day, you, the reader, will still be involved in the evolution of content networking; but, the possibilities will still exceed the imagination.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars improved content distribution?, August 6, 2005

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Content Networking: Architecture, Protocols, and Practice (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Networking) (Hardcover)

The Web or Internet offers access to content. But if you are a publisher of content, you might face problems in effectively disseminating this; especially if high demand is anticipated. Hofmann discusses existing and proposed ways that content can be delivered to the end user.

A big problem is of course bandwidth. Sending the same context to millions of users by sending out millions of identical messages is crude. Hofman explains multicast methods that perhaps you could use. If so, they can offer dramatic savings in bandwidth.

Another problem gone into at length in the text is time sensitive content. Specifically audio, and video and instant messages to a lesser extent. Under the current Internet Protocol version 4 [ie. the Internet as we know it], there is no inherent Quality of Service possible at a low level. Workarounds are possible [sort of] at higher levels. But maybe it will take IPv6 to fully handle this problem?

Hofman also goes into the issue of peer-to-peer networks being used to distribute content. Often violating copyright. But there are certainly other uses that avoid infringement.