An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking: ATM Networks, the Internet, and the Telephone Network (Paperback)

~ Srinivasan Keshav (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Suitable for students, working network engineers, and (to some degree) salespeople responsible for promoting network services, An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking: ATM Networks, the Internet, and the Telephone Network explains how voice and data networks operate. Author Srinivsan Keshav does a great job of explaining how various systems--especially Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks, Internet Protocol (IP) networks, and switched voice networks--communicate signals from one point to another. He notes similarities and differences among the systems' approaches to the problem of telecommunications and highlights the challenges inherent in integrating them. If you're involved in building a large network, particularly if you'll be laying your own cable over long distances--you'll appreciate the design advice this book provides.

An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking takes an academic approach to its topic--the author based this book on lectures he gave at several universities, after all. You can fault his writing style for its dryness, but not for lack of detail or breadth of coverage. He deserves particular praise for his explanation of the seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model, complete with an intelligent analogy between a letter delivered by a postal service and a packet traveling over a network. --David Wall

Topics covered: Fundamentals of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Internet Protocol (IPv4 and IPv6), and telephone networks. Multiplexing, collision management, queuing, switching and routing under ATM, IP, and switched voice.

Product Description

Taking a unique "engineering" approach that will help readers gain a grasp of not just how but also why networks work the way they do, this book includes the very latest network technology--including the first practical treatment of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). The CD-ROM contains an invaluable network simulator.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (May 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201634422
• ISBN-13: 978-0201634426
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #365,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Serious text for developers of networking devices, April 29, 2001

By	Richard Bejtlich "TaoSecurity.com" (Metro Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I am a senior engineer for network security operations who enjoys learning about networking technologies. I read this book because it compares and contrasts telephone, Internet, and ATM networks. I also have a general interest in learning how networks operate. I concentrate on security, but I realize knowing more about networks in general helps my intrusion detection work. I strongly recommend reading this book if you develop or research networking products. Less focused readers will quickly become overwhelmed, as I was!

Mr. Keshav states "the bulk of this book is written at a level suitable for first-year graduate students in computer science or electrical engineering." He is not kidding! While Mr. Keshav does an excellent job discussing technical material, the extreme level to which he takes explanations demands a very dedicated reader. I was happy enough to learn of the many trade-offs required for sound network device design. Once Mr. Keshav began illuminating exactly how some technologies work (with theorems, equations, and statistics), I began skimming.

My favorite sections included chapters 1 through 4, the "basic" material introducing telephone, Internet, and ATM networks. Chapters 5 (Protocol Layering), 6 (System Design) and 7 (Multiple Access) were also good. Beyond chapter 7 (with some exceptions), I found the material deeper than the interest level I have as a security professional.

Some may wonder about the relevance of a book written in 1996 to current networking practice. I believe the bulk of the text remains useful, since it uses technological examples to frame underlying design approaches. Furthermore, Mr. Keshav provides a way to think about networks by defining crucial terms and concepts in clear terms. These definitions are reinforced by excellent summaries, tables, and glossaries.

"An Engineering Approach" provides an incredible number of answers to the "why" questions of telephone, Internet, and ATM networking. Other books will give mainly the "what" or sometimes "how." "What" is enough for doing daily admin, "how" is enough to improve network performance, and "why" is needed to build better networks. If you need all three levels, give Mr. Keshav's book a try!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally clear and well written., April 11, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Canada) - See all my reviews

This is one of those rare books that had me smiling from so many "aha!" flashes of understanding... Dr. Kesav's prose is lucid and simple, without being simplistic. Numerous and well chosen examples are well integrated in the text. What's exceptional about this book is how well one can intuitively understand most of it at first read. If you really, really want to _understand_ the principles behind computer networking, read this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference Book, May 2, 2000

By	Richard A. Johnson (Marlborough, MA) - See all my reviews

While quite usefull as a general text in networking, I find this book to be one of my best resources as a general reference book for networks. Very lucid, well explained sections on complex topics (scheduling, routing, for ex)are often superior to other books dedicated exclusively to such topics. I especially like the exhaustive chapter-by-chapter references given which enable me to pull additional detailed info from the WEB for a really comprehensive handling of esoteric topics when needed.