Data Communications, Computer Networks, and Open Systems (4th Edition) [Hardcover]

F. Halsall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1996 | ISBN-10: 020142293X | ISBN-13: 978-0201422931 | Edition: 4

Drawing on his twenty years as a researcher and teacher, Fred Halsall presents the complex world of data communications and networks with clarity and thoroughness. An invaluable resource to both the student and the practicing computer professional, this fourth edition of the very successful Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems has been extensively updated to reflect the rapid developments in this field.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Highlights of the book include detailed coverage of:

• The essential theory associated with digital transmission
• Digital leased circuits including PDH, SONET and SDH
• Protocol basics including specification and implementation methods
• Legacy and wireless LANs
• High-speed LANs including 100BaseT and 100 VG AnyLAN
• Transparent and source routing bridges
• Packet switching and frame relay networks and their protocols
• Internetworking architectures, protocols and routing algorithms
• Multiservice broadband networks including ATM LANs and MANs
• The TCP/IP and OSI application protocols including X.400 and X.500
• Data encryption and network security algorithms
• Network management architectures including SNMP and CMIP

020142293XB04062001

About the Author

Meet Fred Halsall

Fred Halsall is Newbridge Professor of Communications Engineering at the University of Wales Swansea. He has been involved in research in this field for over twenty years and has published extensively during this time.

020142293XAB04062001

Product Details

• Hardcover: 928 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 4 edition (January 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 020142293X
• ISBN-13: 978-0201422931
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.8 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Internet & Networking

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bit dry sometimes, but extremely complete, September 20, 2000

By 

Spiff (Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Data Communications, Computer Networks, and Open Systems (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

I have been using Fred Halsall's book in my computer engineering degree and it has been very useful. This is a dense, fat book that will provide lots of information. It covers the basics, from the essential theory about digital transmission, protocol basics and implementation methods, legacy and wireless LANs, HS LANs, transparent and source routing bridges, packet switching and frame relay networks/protocols, internetworking architectures, protocols and routing algorithms, multiservice broadband networks, TCP/IP and OSI application protocols, data encryption and network security, network management structures like SNMP and CMIP and other stuff. I can complain about some of the excessive use of acronyms that leave some areas of the book much harder to read. I'm talking about hundreds of acronyms here.

Also, Fred's writing is sometimes a bit too dry, sometimes forgetting to give the reader a general idea about the subject, instead of just jumping into all the details. This is something that is better done in other books, especially Andrew Tanenbaum's "Computer Networks". Tanenbaum also shares his sense of humour, which, in a dense volume about telecommunications, ends up refreshing the user. Also, Tanenbaum's dares to share his opinion sometimes, something Halsall seldom does, giving us only the facts and nothing more. But if it's the facts you want, he's good at it.

I found most of the book clear; the section about Huffman data compression for instance, was excellent. I remember having some trouble with the Viterbi EC algorithm, which isn't very well explained. The book also lacks information about some more modern technologies like GSM.

In general, this is a very competent title, and a great resource to the student or the computer professional. Be sure to check Andrew S. Tanenbaum's "Computer Networks", since you might prefer it to this title, or, the perfect choice, get both. (I have them both and some subjects are a lot better in one book, and others are a lot better in the other title).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, January 1, 2001

By 

Kyle Prevey (Kirkland, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Data Communications, Computer Networks, and Open Systems (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

This is a very good book! It delves into the details right from the start. I recommend this book to anyone in the data communications field. It can be a bit dry and complex, but the material is complete and after two or so perusals is easy to understand. This book was used in my graduate course for data communications. Excellent book!

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems (Ele, November 25, 1999

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Data Communications, Computer Networks, and Open Systems (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

Excellent book. I have read first edition (1992) and now it is one of my best reference at the university where I teach.

I am going to buy this last edition to keep updated.