Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach [Hardcover]

"Computer Networking" by Kurose and Ross is an excellent introduction to the topic of computer networking as it relates to the largest and arguably most important network of them all: the internet. As stated in the title, the authors take a top-down approach that, in my opinion, is very well suited to CS or SE majors who are typically already familiar with aspects of the application and transport layers, but who often have had little or no training (or interest) at the physical layer. In this way Kurose's text distinguishes itself from other popular texts such as those by Stallings ("Data and Computer Communications") or Tanenbaum ("Computer Networks").

There are a total of nine chapters, the first of which paints the big picture and lays out the plan for the book. The book presents a analysis of each layer of the 5-layer TCP/IP model. The decision to use the TCP/IP model over the OSI model is appropriate considering the authors' intentions of focusing on the internet. To accomplish their goal the authors next provide chapters on the application, transport, network and data-link layers respectively. The coverage of the application and transport layers are where the book seperates itself from both Tanenbaum and (especially) Stallings. In addition to providing the theory Kurose and Ross also inject practical demonstrations such as introducing the reader to socket programming in Java. The coverage of the network and datalink layers is somewhat more standard, but still very good and complete. Following these are chapters on wireless and mobile networks, multi-media networking, network security, and a small chapter on network management. Coverage of the physical layer is spread throughout all of the chapters in the book and presented on a "need-to-know" basis. Each chapter presents ample details about the protocols, technologies, algorithms and standards that are used by each layer as it relates to the internet. All of these chapters are quite long (between 70-120 pages) which may give readers the impression that the text drags on. It would be wise for readers to treat the major sub-headings in each chapter as single entities, rather than attempting to plow through each chapter in a single sitting.

The style of the writing would be best described as clear and accessible. The authors make use of analogy and repetition to drive home the content, particularly in the first three chapters. Students who are new to the subject and have not had much experience thinking about things such as protocols and algorithms will likely appreciate this approach.

Like any book, this book will be useful only to a subset of people who want to study computer networks. I think this book provides the best introduction for CS/SE students who have not had much exposure to network theory and are looking for a practical introduction to the subject. For CS/SE students who feel they want a more formal, terse, and dense introduction to the subject, they should try Tanenbaum's "Computer Networks" instead. Be aware that while Tanenbaum does provide more complete coverage he also assumes more "maturity" from the reader. Kurose can thus be thought of as a "gentle" verion of Tanenbaum's book. For EE/CE majors I would recommend Stallings or Tanenbaum over Kurose. Although Kurose does cover topics such as physical media and signaling, his treatment is cursory and assumes that the reader is not particularly interested in the fine theoretical details. Stallings, in contradistinction to Kurose, assumes the reader is not particularly interested in the transport and application layers and spends many pages covering the fine details of the physical theory. Stallings coverage is also much more broad than Kurose's, as he does not give particular preference to the internet, an approach that will probably just bore CS/SE students. Tanenbaum provides the most balanced and uniform coverage of the three books, and can be used successfully and fruitfully by anyone who has a solid background in computer science or computer engineering.

A word needs to be said about the problem sets at the end of each chapter. Some of the problems can be difficult to solve unless you have really mastered the material in the chapter. There are not tons of examples given within the text itself. Thus, it is fair to say that the authors implicitly assume a certain amount of mathematical maturity. You must be fairly comfortable thinking algebraically, and with calculating values and solving basic equations. CS and SE students should not have any problems here. There is very little advanced algebra, no trigonometry, and no calculus. While the lack of examples may frustrate some readers, compared to both Tanenbaum and Stallings, Kurose's problem sets are very straight-forward and elementary.

In conclusion, Kurose and Ross provide an excellent introduction to networking and the internet for CS/SE majors or anyone who is at least somewhat computer saavy. Highly recommended overall.

This book is a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience!!! I bought this book before Christmas out of curiosity and out of a potential need to learn more about computer networking and brush up on it when asked about it on a technical interview.

Since I already had certified as a Java Enterprise Architect, which required knowledge of Java 2 Network Security and protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, IIOP, JRMP, I had some limited, specialized knowledge of network protocols. However, this book really gave me much more background on the Internet than I had anticipated and it broadened my perspective about future technology developments, which will probably continue to be born out of the Internet. Should it be no surprise that a language such as Java, which started out as a network programming language has become much more than that? No doubt the Internet has proven to be much larger of an influence in the world than ever expected. For example, years ago I remember reading about the seven-layer ISO OSI reference model using in data communications in telecommunications. This book made it clear that this has all been compacted into a five-layer Internet protocol stack. Something arcane and mystical has been simplified and is very public domain.

This book covers the five-layer protocol stack: Application Layer, Transport Layer, Network Layer, Link Layer, and Physical Layer. I thought I might be turned off by some of the geeky topics in the network protocols, but instead I found them quite tasty too and I gobbled up the whole book.

The introduction chapter outlined most of the topics covered in later chapters such as each of the layer protocols and then topics that build on them such as security, wireless and mobile networks, multimedia networking, and network management.

Some of my major learning experiences included: DSL, circuit switching, packet switching, application protocols, DNS servers, socket programming using either TCP or UDP, building reliable data transfer protocols such as TCP, TCP congestion control, routers, IPv4 and IPv6, routing algorithms, designing subnet IP addresses, network interface cards/MAC addresses, Ethernet protocol details, and then some.

I also used the book's programming assignment downloads, and Ethernet Wireshark labs, study guides and self-assessment tests. All of this really anchors and expands upon the topics covered in each chapter. This book and the online learning aids was more fun and brain expanding than sudoku puzzles!

I had to purchase this book for an intro to Networking and communication class, and have found that reading this book is akin to wadding through molasses.

I will note that this is an online course and that the professor is very hands-off (she posted the power-point slides and gives us the occasional assignment/test).

The author is very chatty, and tends to introduce topics that he has no intention of covering, instead pointing you to one of the billion references utilized in the book for "more information;" as an undergraduate student taking six classes and working full time I prefer books that are relatively self-contained and to the point, leaving references and suggestions for alternate sources to the end of the chapter.

Another problem that consistently comes up in the book is that the author does not complete his explanation of the mathematics, or breaks the explanation into multiple parts spanning multiple pages and subsections; what's worse is when he decides to make you decipher an important piece of information as part of the end of chapter questions.

I've leave with two comments: first, I think the book could be cut in half if the author was more to the point; second, this would be an excellent book for a high level undergrad/grad student, or perhaps an on-campus class with an excellent teacher to help you shave away the fat and fill in the gaps.