Design And Validation Of Computer Protocols [Facsimile] [Paperback]

Gerard J. Holzmann (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0135399254 | ISBN-13: 978-0135399255 | Publication Date: October 11, 1990 | Edition: 1

This volume discusses the fundamental problems of designing logically consistent methods of communication between multiple computer processes. Standard protocol design problems, such as error control and flow control, are covered in detail, but also structured design methods and the construction of formal validation models. The book contains complete listings and explanations of new protocol validation and design tool called SPIN. Author is in charge of protocol design at Bell Labs. Professionals who bought Tanenbaum's COMPUTER NETWORKS, 2/E and Comer's TCP/IP will buy this. This is the first book to cover automated protocol design and validation tools extensively.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This volume discusses the fundamental problems of designing logically consistent methods of communication between multiple computer processes. Standard protocol design problems, such as error control and flow control, are covered in detail, but also structured design methods and the construction of formal validation models. The book contains complete listings and explanations of new protocol validation and design tool called SPIN. Author is in charge of protocol design at Bell Labs. Professionals who bought Tanenbaum's COMPUTER NETWORKS, 2/E and Comer's TCP/IP will buy this. This is the first book to cover automated protocol design and validation tools extensively.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (October 11, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135399254
• ISBN-13: 978-0135399255
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,516,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book for network protocol designers, April 22, 2000

By 

Juergen Kahrs (Bremen, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Design And Validation Of Computer Protocols (Paperback)

You have probably read the text from the back cover of the book, which is cited above. Every word of it is true. This is an excellent book, even for (serious) beginners, but also for experts who need some advice on how to avoid bad designs.

All in all it is a joy to read this book as a thorough introduction to the subject. But I have to mention some criticism:

1. Holzmann did the research for the book in the late 1980s and the book was copyrighted in 1991. Therefore some parts look a bit dated now.

2. This is probably one of the best books on the design of network protocols. But who designs protocols ? Do you intend to specify a new protocol ? Probably not. For all those mere mortals who just want to have a quick look at the basics of network protocol, this book is probably too much material. And I am afraid, those few people who do indeed design protocols might take it as a weakness of the book that it does not focus on their favourite protocol family. Instead, Holzmann shows them how to design and verify (!) the correctness of completely new protocols.

3. Network protocols have a long history ! Still today we can learn from historical prototypes. Their basics can be traced back hundreds of years and it is a joy to see how Holzmann mentions them again and again even in the later (more formal) chapters.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Makes you feel the complexity of protocol design, December 21, 2003

By 

Steve Uhlig (Berlin, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Design And Validation Of Computer Protocols (Paperback)

It's clear that this book is a little bit outdated compared to Holzmann's recent book on the SPIN model checker. However, i feel that the SPIN book does not explain how difficult it is to design even very simple protocols. In this one, Holzmann provides examples of protocols that look really simple while proving their correctness is utterly difficult. The examples are of particular interest for people working in networking.

The interest of this book is mainly historical, since it treats protocol standardization and the design problems in early computer protocols. The latter half of the book presents the Promela language and the associated SPIN model checker, both of which are far better presented in the recent book "The SPIN model checker" by the same author (hence only the four stars since half of the book is now outdated).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is translated int Japanese., October 16, 2008

By 

kaizen (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Design And Validation Of Computer Protocols (Paperback)

I read this book on Japanese translated version.
The book is good translated.
I whold recommend all of network programmer should read this book.

History of network protocol and model checking is good for stady.
We can understand why we should check a protocol and we should make a model.

SPIN and promela is good tool for programmer.
If you interest in SPIN and promela, new book should be readed.

BTW, c programs for some checksum on the Japanese translated book are little different from this latest English book. I will report this for Japanese translators who are well known network protocol designers.