Data Communications and Networking (McGraw-Hill Forouzan Networking) [Hardcover]

Behrouz Forouzan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0073250325 | ISBN-13: 978-0073250328 | Edition: 4

As one of the fastest growing technologies in our culture today, data communications and networking presents a unique challenge for instructors. As both the number and types of students are increasing, it is essential to have a textbook that provides coverage of the latest advances, while presenting the material in a way that is accessible to students with little or no background in the field. Using a bottom-up approach, Data Communications and Networking presents this highly technical subject matter without relying on complex formulas by using a strong pedagogical approach supported by more than 700 figures.

Now in its Fourth Edition, this textbook brings the beginning student right to the forefront of the latest advances in the field, while presenting the fundamentals in a clear, straightforward manner. Students will find better coverage, improved figures and better explanations on cutting-edge material. The "bottom-up" approach allows instructors to cover the material in one course, rather than having separate courses on data communications and networking.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1168 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; 4 edition (February 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0073250325
• ISBN-13: 978-0073250328
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book out there for basic-intermediate level, July 17, 2007

By 

D. Hellums - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Data Communications and Networking (McGraw-Hill Forouzan Networking) (Hardcover)

I conducted a full book research for an undergraduate networking class I'll be teaching, and this volume quickly rose to the top, and stayed there. It may not be perfect for a strongly math-centric or engineering-based curriculum, but it's perfect for IT/IS and general CS. It is the textbook I wish I had when I took my first undergraduate and even graduate level networking class in college. This is also a book that I actually enjoy reading and flipping through--a prerequisite for students. There is no doubt for me that this book will stand the test of time as a reference book for them through the coming years.

This book is well organized, well written, well researched, comprehensive, and is consistently high quality across the board (table of contents, end of chapter material, glossary, index, illustrations, figures, tables, callouts, boxes, etc.). Please, I challenge you to refer me to a book with a better glossary, or as up-to-date content as MT-RJ connectors (with a Figure, no less!) The website for the book is also top-notch! Students can take a chapter quiz, have it electronically graded, and submit the results via email to themselves and to me. Guess what we're going to do at the end of class? ;-)

The layout and color scheme of the book is surprisingly conducive to learning, something you can't say about every textbook. There is more than enough stuff for a good professor to be able to fill a basic networking class.

Probably the only thing I found lacking, and this is for professors, not readers or students, was a more thorough pedagogical discussion of proposed curriculum paths and sequences for professors to consider. Most will go their own way, but it is helpful up front to know why the author(s) organized the way they did, included what they did (vs. specific model curricula), and what the ramifications might be of moving things around, etc. Personally, I'll be de-emphasizing chapters 6, 8, 10, 11, 17, 18, 22, 24, and 29--FWIW! But that's just me... I also would have liked to have seen, somewhere (even if it was online), a practical primer for students, on how to use Hyperterm, for example, and links to some free utilities for network monitoring, etc. If that was there, I haven't ran across it yet. Oh, and possibly a discussion of certification paths, for those that are interested. But then again, professors shouldn't be handed everything on a platter. So those are minor criticisms.

This was an easy textbook to adopt, and I am quite sure the students will greatly benefit from the work Behrouz and his technical review team did on this great text. I am not always easily impressed, but in this case I was.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introductory book on computer networks, July 15, 2009

By 

Prof Wollongong "Inno" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Data Communications and Networking (McGraw-Hill Forouzan Networking) (Hardcover)

One of the more accessible books on computer networks. Very nice and simple illustrations of key concepts. Good explanation of fundamental concepts. Plenty of exercises. Wish I had this book when I started learning about computer networks.

For instructors, this book comes with a comprehensive online resource. In particular, solutions and jpeg images that you can use in your lectures.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Did anyone edit this book?, March 5, 2011

By 

3rugger (Chantilly, VA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Data Communications and Networking (McGraw-Hill Forouzan Networking) (Hardcover)

The book provides a decent introduction but has far too many errors. It is hard to learn when the examples are incorrect. Things like using 10^5 as the exponent for a kilometer. Guess no one bothered to check the math before publishing. I expect more when I pay $100 for a textbook.