TCP/IP Lean: Web Servers for Embedded Systems (Book and CD-Rom Edition) [Paperback]

Jeremy Bentham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

This is a hands-on guide to TCP/IP networking that includes source codes to a simple TCP/IP stack - a lean version that is easier to present and efficient enough to use in embedded applications. Learn about, and experiment with, the simpler aspects of Internetworking, before tackling the TCP protocol itself. The book covers: key networking and multimedia technologies; codes for fully-debugged protocol software; extending professionally-written software; utilities for simulating and testing networks; and tools and utilities for future network development. This book aims to meet the challenge of implementing dynamic Web pages on small-scale embedded systems, providing full C source codes for the PC hardware platform, and a PIC microcontroller. Software provided on the accompanying CD-ROM is compatible with several popular C compilers to simplify desktop development.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeremy Bentham is co-founder of an industrial networking company (Io Ltd.) and its software consulting offshoot Iosoft Ltd., in Cambridge, England. An engineer by training, he has developed many computer systems in railway control and other industrial applications and a wide range of software tools for embedded systems. Networking projects included Bitup, a Bitbus emulation for the 80188 processor; data transfer protocols using Arcnet and Ethernet; and a full 801888-based remote-boot communications system using the simpler TCP/IP protocols (UDP and TFTP). Recent work has been in implementing embedded TCP/IP systems in aerospace, Air Quality and video surveillance applications. In his spare time, Jeremy enjoys playing racquet sports, and is a keen amateur actor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 402 pages
• Publisher: CMP Books; Bk&CD-Rom edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929629117
• ISBN-13: 978-1929629114
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,811,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TCP/IP for Embedded Systems with Invaluable Sample Code, September 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: TCP/IP Lean: Web Servers for Embedded Systems (Book and CD-Rom Edition) (Paperback)

This is an invaluable text for anyone wishing to implement TCP/IP in an embedded system and would also be ideal as an undergraduate text for the practical aspects of Computer Networks & Communications. The first chapter gives a brief overview of networking hardware and software, SLIP over RS232 and Ethernet protocols, device drivers and timing as well as state machines and buffering considerations. The second chapter discusses the OSI model & demonstrates the fundamentals of a networking protocol with sample program fragments written in the `C' programming language. Chapters 3 through 7 give detailed coverage of the core networking protocols including ARP, IP and ICMP, UDP, TCP, Telnet and finally HTTP. These protocols are exercised, tested and explained with `C' sample code and explanations of test results. The sample code effectively forms a library of low level networking source code written in `C'. Chapters 8 through 11 demonstrate various working applications based on a PIC microcontroller - a real embedded system. The really nice thing about this book is the source code and utilities provided on the CD for virtually all `C' compilers including Microsoft VisualC++ 6.0, Borland and the FREE GNU C (+IDE). I have given this text a five star rating and would recommend it to embedded systems programmers needing to implement TCP/IP as well as undergraduate students studying networking.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as great as anticipated, July 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: TCP/IP Lean: Web Servers for Embedded Systems (Book and CD-Rom Edition) (Paperback)

I bought this book based on the reviews here, and the fact that the author popped up in several Usenet groups and seemed to know what he was talking about. The title and subtitle would indicate that this was exactly the book I was looking for, and the fact that it included source was a bonus.

Unfortunately, after having the book for two weeks now, I can tell you that I've gotten far more value out of Stevens' "TCP/IP Illustrated" series.

The source code included on the CD-ROM is licensed for personal use only, and it appears that probably %90 of the code is included in hardcopy format inside the book.

Finally, the network traces are practically unreadable: it would have been easier to read if the author had used tcpdump, instead of his own style of printf's.

What I wanted was a concise guide to how to strip down TCP/IP to get it running on small systems: what I could delete, what I had to keep, and the tradeoffs of doing so. When I finish filtering through all the source code and simply focus on the text, that may be what I end up with.

But since I don't have much time, the book will probably sit on the floor, and I'll keep Stevens on the desk.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disjointed documentation of the Author's Software, June 5, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: TCP/IP Lean: Web Servers for Embedded Systems (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

The second edition of the book is an expanded version of the first edition with the same, lazy, writing style. The author seems to have a problem collecting his thoughts and tends to jump around topics. The writing style is that of a technician with limited technical writing skills. CMP Books could use a good copy reviewer/editor team.

If you are attempting to learn networking protocols in general, there are higher quality books available. If your goal is to learn a network stack on an embedded processor (In particular the PIC), this is not a bad book as source code is included. To be successful and focused on the software, you'll need to invest another [$] for the PCW version of CCS's compiler, and another [$] for the Microchip PIC.net demo board (Unless you have very good prototyping skills). Note that the first edition of this book comes with the Microchip PIC.net demo board which is sufficent.