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Ethernet, The Definitive Guide
by By Charles E. Spurgeon, Reviewed by:Howard Friedowitz, February 2001 TUGNET, The Users Group Network, Granada Hills, CA - March 26, 2001 at 23:12:00:
IEEE 802.3 - ISO - OSI - 10 Base5 - 10 Base2 - FOIRL - 10 Broad36 -1 Base5 0151 10 Base-T - 10 Base-F - 100 Base-T - 100 Base-X - 100 Base-T4 - 100 Base-T2 - CSMA/CD - MAC Frames - Packets - CRC - Broadcast - Multicast -LLC - ARP (Not AARP) - AUI - IEEE 802.1dHey, readers, do you know what any of these items are? All are terms involved in networking and this book discusses all of them.
This book is about Ethernet, which has been a standard way of connecting computers together for about 20 years. It is about 500 pages, starting with a brief history and evolution of the Internet. It cites all the pertinent IEEE standards of what is discussed, but that doesn’t mean the book is written in “TechnoBabble.”
Actually, Ethernet doesn’t get any more understandable than this. That’s not to say that it reads like a novel, but considering the technical complexity in this area, surprisingly it is written in the kind of English that should be readily understandable by most readers. With this book you can get into it as deeply as you want. But, if you don’t want to get in too deep you can still find the answers you need. On the other hand, if you want to follow all the IEEE standards, you can make it as indepth as you want.
It covers the IEEE standards for:
10mbps Ethernet, 100 mbps Fast Ethernet, 1000 mbps Gigabit Ethernet, 10 BaseT/F, 100 BaseTX/FX and 1000 BaseT/X
IEEE cabling is covered: twisted pair, coax, and fiberoptic. Also covered are Repeating Hubs and Switching Hubs.
Internet Protocols are explained, including MAC (halfduplex) and full duplex.
Performance issues and troubleshooting problems are covered. Resources and online references are also included.
Ethernet Frames, or Packets, as they are often called, are described, and the component parts explained. Collision detection and control is explained. AutoNegotiation Signaling is explained in a chapter.
There are chapters devoted to cabling and hardware used for 10 BaseT, 100 BaseT, and FiberOptic, with connection diagrams, pinouts, and drawings, where appropriate, so that when you pick up the hardware, you can tell what you’re looking at. Specifications for lengths of cable runs for 10, 100, 1000 mbps, and Fiber Optic networks are also discussed.
For larger networks, using repeater hubs, there is a chapter on MultiSegment Configuration Guidelines. This section gets into the more complex timing issues and lengths of cable runs, for different segments, at different speeds.
Structured Cabling has its own chapter in the book. This subject covers wiringup entire buildings for a Local Area Network (LAN). What types of cables to use for different situations, identifying cables in a cablerun, and setting up Wiring Closets are all discussed here.
Twisted Pair cables and connectors have their own chapter. RJ45 plug wiring, (Making Patch Cables (8pin)) is covered, as are 50pin and 25pair cables. Fiber Optic cable and connectors have their own chapter.
Internet Repeater Hubs have their chapter, which covers timing, noise and other issues in the 10 BaseT, 100 BaseT and 1000 BaseT environments.
Ethernet Switching Hubs have a chapter, which discusses their bridging function, which ties together different Ethernet Segments, including those with different speeds, in the hub of a cabling system. switches, or bridges, allow larger networks to be built. Routers are also included in this chapter, along with a nice pro/con discussion of Switching Hubs vs. Routers.
The latter part of the book is devoted to Performance Issues when building a network, and TroubleShooting the network.
Coming last is the Appendices, which list other sources of information on topics relating to Ethernet hardware and software, Thick and Thin Coaxial cabling, and hardware, and then a Glossary.
If you are interested in learning more about Ethernet for building a network at home, or learning enough to get started in a networking career, this book will give you a good grounding in the fundamentals. It also includes both online and offline references to keep the nerdiest Nerd happy. I doubt if there is an easier book from which to learn those fundamentals.
ETHERNET The Definitive Guide, by Charles E. Spurgeon. Published February 2000 by O’Reilly and Associates, Inc ISBN: 1565926609
Amazon.com has a price of $35.96 for the paperback version.
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