TCP/IP & Linux Protocol Implementation: Systems Code for the Linux Internet (Hardcover)

~ Jon Crowcroft (Author, Editor), Iain Phillips (Author, Editor) "The history of the Internet is the history of the world's most successful software system..." (more)
Key Phrases: unsigned long arg, struct iphdr, constant htons, Alan Cox, Time Exceeded, Tunnels Figure (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A one-of-a-kind description about using the Linux operating system on a TCP/IP network
Boasting high-performance, high availability, and open source code, Linux has emerged as an optimal choice for an operating system. Yet for Linux to be adopted by the mainstream of Unix-based corporate and ISP networks, it must be capable of supporting the TCP/IP Internet protocol, like any other network operating system. This book provides the rapidly growing audience of Linux site managers, as well as researchers and developers worldwide, with the information they need on how Linux TCP/IP keeps the network running. Internationally recognized expert on Internetworking, Jon Crowcroft walks readers through the Linux TCP/IP protocol stack, offering detailed explanations on how Linux implements its communications protocols. Vinton Cerf--co-inventor of TCP/IP--is the technical editor for this book.

From the Back Cover

"This remarkable book ought to be titled ‘TCP/IP illustrated’! In clear and concise language and figures, the authors take the reader on a programmer’s dream guide to Linux on the ’Net. If you need to know how it works, this is the book that should be in your library."--Vinton Cerf

TCP/IP and Linux Protocol Implementation

Boasting high performance, high availability, and open source code, Linux has emerged as the optimal choice for an operating system. Yet for Linux to be adopted by the mainstream, it must be capable of supporting the TCP/IP Internet protocol. With this comprehensive book, you’ll be taken step by step through the process of how Linux TCP/IP keeps the network running. Leading expert Jon Crowcroft explores the Linux TCP/IP protocol stack, offering detailed explanations of how Linux implements its communications protocols.

The book begins by examining the life cycle of a single packet, from creation to transmission and from reception to consumption. You’ll then find an overview of socket programming and learn about the kernel infrastructure support for communications in general. The authors also walk you through the implementation of the network layer code of support and describe the transport protocol implementations. Additionally, they examine network security, describing the various networking filtering techniques and applications.

Complete with explanations and illustrations, this book shows you:

• Ways in which protocol state and packet data are stored
• How the format of packets are transmitted, forwarded, and received
• Rules for processing user, network, and timer events
• The progression of the set of tasks involved in communication
• The set of actions carried out by the system manager

Networking Council Books put technology into perspective for decision-makers who need an implementation strategy, a vendor and outsourcing strategy, and a product and design strategy. The series advisors are three of the most influential leaders of the networking community:

LYMAN CHAPIN–Chief Scientist at NextHop Technologies, former Chief Scientist at BBN, and founding trustee of the Internet Society

SCOTT BRADNER–Senior Consultant for Harvard University, Transport Area Director IETF, trustee of the Internet Society, and ISOC VP of Standards

VINTON CERF–Senior Vice President for Internet Architecture and Technology at MCI WorldCom, founding President of the Internet Society, and co-inventor of TCP/IP

Wiley Computer Publishing
Timely. Practical. Reliable.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 1st edition (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471408824
• ISBN-13: 978-0471408826
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.9 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,051,981 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Networking Concepts + Kernel Source Code Printout, December 1, 2001

By	Larry Riedel (San Diego, US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My opinion is this book is pretty much just some relatively high level networking concepts and a printout of a bunch of the Linux kernel source code.

I guess some value add is supposed to be in giving some idea of which code fragments in the kernel source files do what, but I do not think it does a very good job of that, since it does not start with a top-down description of what needs to be done and then proceed towards more detailed views, finally ending up with annotated source code. It pretty much just gives the top level, and page after page of printouts of Linux kernel source.

For me, this adds very little value, so the book is worth very little to me. At the very least I think anyone considering buying the book should take a look at it before spending money.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I could have downloaded kernel tcp code for free, October 25, 2004

By	H. Wang (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    (VINE VOICE)

I was cheated into believing this book might have a lot of meat in it because of number of pages (almost 1000 pages), but I was wrong when I started reading the book. Over 90% of the pages are kernel source code, literally, without any word addition or deduction. It might just include a CD ROM which contains the source code and make this book a better buy at 100 pages (if charge less also).

This book wants to teach you tcp/ip protocol and try to sell you on the Linux front since it is hot today. But it fails in both aspects. The tcp/ip protocol descrition is so short and incomplete that I don't believe anyone reading this book along would become familiar with tcp/ip. Nor does this book teach you about how to understand/modify kernel tcp stack in case you want to do something your own.

It is a shame that Vinton Cerf is the editor of this book and gives comment comparing that to "TCP/IP Illustrated". This book is way below the league and looks like some college students finishing a school report (no time, let's fill up with copied materials!). Vinton may lose his sense of technicality due to MCI Worldcom bankruptcy.

Finally, I would comment on the organization of the book. Each chapter starts with some summarization of introduction, then copy of relevant kernel code, usually in sections with one line description from the author. I give the book two start mainly for these brief introduction and summarization.

save your money.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dont buy this book - view the KERNEL Source code, February 17, 2002

By	EZRA KOPER (Israel) - See all my reviews

90% of the book is kernel Source Code without almost no explanation. Why buy this book if you can view the source code for free