Understanding Linux Network Internals (Paperback)

by Christian Benvenuti (Author)
Key Phrases: policy routing, forward delay, helper routines, Internet Protocol Version, Traffic Control, Miscellaneous Topics (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Anyone who works with Linux networking should have a copy to hand to help with those inexplicable problems and to better understand how it all works." - James Millen, BJHC & IM, November 2006

Product Description
If you've ever wondered how Linux carries out the complicated tasks assigned to it by the IP protocols -- or if you just want to learn about modern networking through real-life examples -- "Understanding Linux Network Internals" is for you.

Like the popular O'Reilly book, "Understanding the Linux Kernel," this book clearly explains the underlying concepts and teaches you how to follow the actual C code that implements it. Although some background in the TCP/IP protocols is helpful, you can learn a great deal from this text about the protocols themselves and their uses. And if you already have a base knowledge of C, you can use the book's code walkthroughs to figure out exactly what this sophisticated part of the Linux kernel is doing.

Part of the difficulty in understanding networks -- and implementing them -- is that the tasks are broken up and performed at many different times by different pieces of code. One of the strengths of this book is to integrate the pieces and reveal the relationships between far-flung functions and data structures. "Understanding Linux Network Internals" is both a big-picture discussion and a no-nonsense guide to the details of Linux networking. Topics include:

Key problems with networking

Network interface card (NIC) device drivers

System initialization

Layer 2 (link-layer) tasks and implementation

Layer 3 (IPv4) tasks and implementation

Neighbor infrastructure and protocols (ARP)

Bridging

Routing

ICMP

Author Christian Benvenuti, an operating system designer specializing in networking, explains much more than how Linux code works. He shows the purposes of major networking features and the trade-offs involved inchoosing one solution over another. A large number of flowcharts and other diagrams enhance the book's understandability.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1062 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; illustrated edition edition (December 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596002556
• ISBN-13: 978-0596002558
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,740 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Operating Systems > Linux > Networking & System Administration
  #18 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Operating Systems > Linux > Programming
  #33 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Operating Systems > Unix

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Linux networking software book to start with, October 14, 2006

By	Harvey Sugar "Embedded software engineer" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have read a number of books on the TCP/IP protocols and their implementations; both the original Berkeley (BSD) Unix TCP/IP stack and the Linux TCP/IP stack. I must say that this is the best of all of them. This book makes the subject very approachable for the newcomer to network protocol software but the explanations are detailed enough to satisfy an old dog like me. Benvenuti's writing style is clear and very readable. He liberally provides diagrams to illustrate the concepts he is discussing.

My only fault with the book is that the transport layer protocols (UDP and TCP) are not covered. Benvenuti provides a list of important areas of the networking software that are not covered in the book but gives other references for most of these. I hope that he is working on a volume 2 to cover these areas.

I would sum up by saying that if you want to learn about the Linux networking software or network protocol software in general, start with this book. This book will give you the background to understand other, less well written books that cover the remaining networking software topics.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book For Those Who want to know How Linux Network Stack Works, April 7, 2009

By	Venkatram Tummala (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you already have knowledge about how computer networks work in general & want to know how those networking concepts are actually designed & implemented in an operating system, this book is a must. This Book is a smooth read & goes step by step.

First it tells you how a NIC registers itself with the kernel. Then it describes an high-level introduction of how device drivers drive the device. Then it describes the interface between the kernel and the device drivers. It also discusses bridging & routing concepts.

If you want to delve into the linux networking code of the kernel or if you are actually looking to modify a part of the networking code, this book is a must read.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, in depth review of Linux Networking, January 7, 2009

By	Nicholas A. Barendt (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book was exactly what I was looking for - a practical, in-depth explanation and review of the various software components that make up the Linux kernel's network stack.