Embedded Ethernet and Internet Complete [Paperback]

Jan Axelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Bringing together two areas of computer technology—networking and embedded systems—this developer's guide offers guidance and examples for each of these, with a focus on the special requirements and limits of embedded systems. Because developing an embedded system for networking requires knowledge from many areas, including circuit design, programming, network architecture, and Ethernet and Internet protocols, developers are given valuable technical information on each that can be put to use right away. Covered are the advantages and limits of using Ethernet to connect embedded systems in a local network, hardware and program code needed to connect an embedded system to an Ethernet network and the Internet, and how to build a network. Also discussed are how embedded systems can use TCP/IP and related protocols and how personal-computer applications can use the protocols to communicate with embedded systems. Developers will learn how their Web server's pages can include dynamic, real-time content and respond to user input.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A clearly written and useful volume for those who want to program embedded devices with Ethernet." -- www.techbookreport.com

"All of the details, plenty of examples, none of the hype. Jan shows how to build embedded networks that work!" -- Ed Nisley, columnist, Dr. Dobb's Journal (Embedded Space), Circuit Cellar (Above the Ground Plane)

"I'd recommend this for anyone who wants to learn about Ethernet or IP networking, on embedded systems or not." -- JavaRanch, October 15, 2003

"Jan presents everything in the context of systems with limited resources. That's where the real strength of this book lies." -- The Embedded Muse, December 11, 2003

"Jan translates a tough subject into something both understandable and practical." -- Steve Ciarcia, founder and editorial director, Circuit Cellar magazine

"The hands-on approach and real software examples make this book invaluable." -- ECN Magazine

"This book is practical and complete. Beginners and experts alike will benefit from Jan's clear exposition of the embedded Internet." -- Norman Rogers, president, Rabbit Semiconductor

A good read for embedded-device programmers as well as anyone wanting to learn about network programming. -- Don Loomis, Executive Director, Microcontroller Business Unit, Dallas Semiconductor

About the Author

Jan Axelson writes about computer programming and electronic technology. Jan's books include USB Embedded Hosts, USB Complete, Serial Port Complete, and USB Mass Storage. Jan's articles have appeared in Circuit Cellar, EDN, Embedded Systems Programming, and Nuts & Volts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 482 pages
• Publisher: Lakeview Research (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931448000
• ISBN-13: 978-1931448000
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Microprocessors & System Design > Embedded Systems
  • #18 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Internet & Networking

More About the Author

Jan Axelson is the author of books about computers and electronic technology, including USB Complete, USB Embedded Hosts, Serial Port Complete, USB Mass Storage, and Embedded Ethernet and Internet Complete. Jan's articles have appeared in Embedded Systems Programming, EDN, Circuit Cellar, Nuts & Volts, and other publications. Bill Machrone of PC Magazine has described Jan's writing as 'a model of clarity and conciseness.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction (originally posted October 24, 2003), February 23, 2005

By 

Alfred R. Katz (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Embedded Ethernet and Internet Complete (Paperback)

I wish I had read this book before embarking on my current project. Jan Axelson's "Embedded Ethernet and Internet Complete" gives a great introduction to connecting embedded devices to ethernet and via ethernet to the internet. It would have filled some gaps in my knowledge and saved me some grief further down the track. This is an excellent introduction to creating applications using ethernet capable embedded devices such as the
Rabbit Ethernet Module or TINI based systems.

This book shows detailed examples of building embedded webservers, including those hosting dynamic data and gathering and using user input. In similar detail, the book has very useful chapters on e-mail and FTP applications on embedded systems.

It even has a great chapter comparing a number of different MAC
controllers, that I wish I'd seen before choosing the one I'm currently using (it introduced me to one I hadn't seen before - that may have been better for my application than the chip I'm using). Unfortunately, that's about where the low level stuff stops. I was hoping for some examples and tips on communicating with these MAC controllers in an embedded environment with limited RAM and ROM resources. This book didn't go down to my level there. For those who are interested in this stuff, consider also buying "TCIP Lean" by Jeremy Bentham, which misses out on most of the stuff in this book, but covers the lower levels of talking to the MAC very well (the two books are, in fact, wonderful companions without too much duplication
between them).

All in all, a book that definitely has a place on the bookshelf of anyone considering working with embedded intenet connected devices, particularly those with limited recent exposure to ethernet device and internet protocols. For me, it fell a little short of the possibly unreachable superlative "Complete".

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars "Complete" should be removed from the title, January 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Embedded Ethernet and Internet Complete (Paperback)

This book does a poor job of explaining the actual protocols and structure of code. In my opinion, you could just as easily buy one of the demo boards mentioned in the book and read the documentation that comes with it rather than buying this book. Cheese whiz! Anybody can read an ad in a magazine for those Rabbit Semiconductor modules, buy one, and I'm sure you can be up and running with a minimum understanding of the hardware or the code in a short period of time.

However, if your goal is to understand TCP/IP and layer two protocols, how to architect your code and optimize your hardware to meet the requirements of your particular project needs, then this book isn't going to get you there. You're better off getting "TCP/IP Illustrated" and even "TCP/IP Lean".

A good summary of this book would be: "1) Buy a pre-built ethernet demo board. 2) Use the code that comes with the board and make the following function calls to that code." You could get the same info from any technical magazine ad and the documentation that comes with the demo board/module.

And one parting thought. Is anybody who is willing and able to code up an embedded ethernet project really in need of an entire chapter devoted to the difference between a straight-through cable and a cross-over cable? Wouldn't that already be in your bag of tricks before attempting something like this?

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wide Range of Useful Information (first posted October 2003), February 24, 2005

By 

Ernest Friedman-Hill "JavaRanch Sheriff" (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Embedded Ethernet and Internet Complete (Paperback)

Recently, I took my daughter to a play about a giant. At turns, the giant was played by an actor and a 30-foot effigy. The other characters were each played both by a person and a 12-inch marionette. It was technically well done: the scale shifted up and down effortlessly.

This book does the same thing, swooping from a description of the bitfields in an Ethernet frame, to the nuances of multithreaded network programming, to details of HTTP, SMTP, POP, and FTP; from making network patch cables (really!) to choosing network-ready embedded processor boards, to architecting whole networks. Somehow, the reader doesn't notice the transitions; this vast range of information is all integrated flawlessly.

The intended audience is embedded systems programmers who want to learn about networking. Someone wanting to build a hardware IP router would find most of what they'd need here, at least regarding the theory and the software. More basic setup information for the specific hardware (including the Java-programmable TINI board) that are used in the excellent examples would have been welcome; some details on assembling a test rig would have let a hardware novice dabble more confidently.

The focus of most of the book is excellent, but the momentum does start to dissipate in the last few chapters; the very last chapter on network security in particular feels tacked on.

I'd recommend this for anyone who wants to learn about Ethernet or IP networking, on embedded systems or not.