Customer Reviews

Practical TCP/IP: Designing, Using, and Troubleshooting TCP/IP Networks on Linux(R) and Windows(R)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book has been touted as the 21st-century upgrade to the classic TCP/IP Illustrated (by Richard W. Stevens), a series which has held a prominent place on the shelves of many a network administrator for the last decade. These are big boots to fill, but Practical TCP/IP does an impressive job. In over 800 pages of well-organized and well-illustrated text, there is no fat, but rather a lean and -- yes -- practical treatment of every major TCP/IP networking concept.

It cannot be emphasized enough that this is a hands-on book, not just a paper tiger. The key difference between it and TCP/IP Illustrated is that Practical TCP/IP walks the reader through detailed exercises at every step of the way. It shows real tools in use, making it easy for the beginner and even the experienced reader to learn new techniques quickly and interactively.

Topics are presented in a building-block fashion, so that sequential progress through the book guarantees the reader will understand each new concept as it is introduced. Those who choose to browse, however, are not left hanging. The author should be commended on an excellent standard of references within each section, pointing ahead, back, or even outside the text to supporting information. It is possible to drop into an advanced topic and still find all the supporting material needed to make sense of it.

Because the book speaks both Windows and Linux fluently, it is hard to conceive a network environment that could not benefit from having it on hand. It's an ideal book for beginners, probably the only one needed for the first and second semesters of a university networking course. Its exercises start with the simplest networking concepts and work up to some of the most complex of the mainstream network topics.

But it is not a book just for beginners. In a straw poll of our network colleagues, everyone found clear treatment of information they had not yet mastered. This is true in particular for the Windows networkers, because much of Windows networking is hidden by simplified user interfaces in the Microsoft tools. These tools work well when everything operates as expected, but when the network is broken, Windows network troubleshooting is daunting. Even the UNIX / Linux professionals found a trove of useful information, particularly in the use of common (free) tools to pick apart network activity and identify problems both glaring and obscure.

Practical TCP/IP can be unreservedly recommended for anyone planning, operating, or debugging a TCP/IP network. It is a major work and easily lives up to its billing as the next TCP/IP Illustrated.

(Note: one Amazon reviewer mentioned a printing error that duplicated some pages and dropped others. We have not experienced this, but you may want to check your copy before buying.)

I believe this is the book that fills in the gap between
the classic texts by W. Richard Stevens and UNIX System
Administration Texts such as USAH and Essential UNIX Administration. I am a Senior UNIX Administrator and I really
enjoyed reading through this book cover to cover reviewing
my previous knowledge of TCP/IP and picking up new ideas
along the way. Way to go Niall!

This book provides a great base knowledge, in the practical understanding of TCP/IP structure. It quickly builds on basic IP addressing concepts, and ties in Subnets, and DNS information very, very well. Thank you for a GREAT book and lifetime reference. One of the books core points that 90 to 95% of networking issues are caused by IP problems, will allow you to solve many of your issues, through focusing on this book.

As the author mentions in his preface, Richard W. Stevens (may his soul rest in peace -- I was so looking forward to his third volume of Unix Network programming) TCP/IP Illustrated Vol. 1 is a little outdated in these days.

This book fills in the practical details using real-world examples. The concentration is on Linux and Windows NT. It would have been nice if the book used Windows 2000 but almost everything mentioned for NT applies to that OS too.

Starting with a small network of two machines and various traces from tcpdump/ethereal/Windows Network monitor, the author explains all the TCP/IP protocols. The discussion is to the point with no header details. For such details he refers you to Stevens. Given this the title is most appropriate.

The trick he uses to make us understand active and passive mode ftp transfers (using two telnet sessions for passive mode and one telnet/one netcat session for active mode) is the best I have seen so far !

Highly recommend this. Worth every penny (pence ?!).

This current book is just a re-print of the 1st. edition. If you already have the old one, don't buy this one.
There should have been notes from Amazon indicating the fact this book was just a re-print!
Also, this book weighs more than the 1st. one due to the paper type used for its printing. The author
had already finished approximately 90% of material that was current. The publisher could have waited
a little longer for him to finish the remaining 10% then print a revised edition.
What a disappointment in buying this book.

As experienced IT engineer I am looking for quality, now more than ever before.
I am tired of reading the same topic in many books more or less well explained.
It leaves me with headaches and takes my time and money.

What sparked my interest in this book, was the uncommon fact that it was reprinted >> after 10 years !! <<

Yes, you read right the first time !!

The book delivers many WOW moments. To many to list them all up.
Beginners will LOVE the Chapter 6 (Routing) and 8 (DNS).
Advanced users will appreciate the later chapters more.


Anyway , to keep it short and sweet, I can unconditionally recommend the book for instructors, students and any IT professionals alike.
This is a book that will save you countless hours of headaches.
In todays connected IT world this book is an absolute must for ANY IT professional.

Mr. Mansfield is the guy with his ears to the ground.
This is a book where you feel the sweat and work that went into it.
You will immediately notice the authors dedication.
The book is written with passion for the topic and you can feel that in each paragraph.
I very much appreciate the carefully prepared details.

Mansfield has delivered an outstanding book for mission critical network essentials.


Mansfield delivers ...

- right contents and amount of info in a meaningful context
- breakdown of complex issues in simple digestible steps
- clear, thorough, helpful and valuable contents
- In short: quality contents with a note of distinction


I can only applaud Mr. Mansfield for a book that will save every single reader unnecessary headaches, time and $$$.
The authors explanations are so exceptionally good, that the only remaining question is

"Why didnt I get this book earlier in the first place ?"


I usually dont recommend ANY technical book that is older than 2 years.
This book very well deserves an exception.

While reading the book it gave me goosebumps several times.
Mansfield manages to describe complex issues in such a way that it becomes a pleasure to read.

This is my forth book from UIT. I love consistent, quality contents and this book is no exception. If you are engineer than UIT Cambridge is one fine label to watch.

Highly recommended !!

The book mentions Linux and Windows, because the examples are from these OSes, but it is really a comprehensive TCP/IP practical reference. The language is very easy. There is not a lot that the reader needs to know. That is why the audience is very broad. If you are looking for all the details it would be hard to find everything in the book. There are a lot of references for RFCs and other sources of additional information for the more demanding reader. One clear advantage of the book is the clear style of the concepts and the good examples that complement them. For the advanced user this may not be an advantage though and a more serious text may be more appropriate. If one is relatively new to the field and looks for quick and practical way to master the basics this would be a very good book.

This book is an excellent book for taking your computer
networking career from mediocre to top notch. Excellent advice
on designing, using and troubleshooting TCP/IP networks.

I am truly mystified as to the reason why a book published for teaching networking to beginners in 2003 would use Windows NT 4 Server as the network operating software and where Win 2000 and Win XP are mentioned only in passing and relegated mostly to the book's incomplete website (which I had to find through a search engine since the publisher's website for this book does not even make reference to the book's website). So forget about using the trial editions of Windows 2000 or 2003 Server (the latter can be downloaded freely from MS) that comes with most of Microsoft's MCSE books (and some other publishers) available from Amazon. Put off buying this book until the author updates (in a 2nd edition, perhaps) to using the latest software.

DO NOT PURCHASE...Q/A failed the publisher on this one...it is missing chapters 19 and 20 (pages 549-580) are repeated twice. Still attempting to get in touch with Addison-Wesley...