Customer Reviews

Sams Teach Yourself Networking in 24 Hours

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4 star:		(3)
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Aimed at the entry-level networking professional, Sams Teach Yourself Networking is unlikely to satisfy the needs of readers interested in an introduction to managing home networks. Much of the discussion centres on network operating systems, dedicated servers and keeping system users happy: hardly high priority topics for non-professionals who tend to be more interested in getting (and keeping) a disparate collection of hardware devices working in harmony! However, this observation should not be construed as criticism and Black's treatise is an excellent aid to developing expertise beyond the typical hybrid desktop routers supplied by most ISPs.

Black uses the OSI network model to introduce the concept of layered protocols and it is a theme used throughout the book to describe how data moves through networks. Not only is this model an excellent vehicle for explaining the fundamentals of networking, but it is also useful for understanding how PCs prepare data for transmission and interpret data on receipt: suddenly, those cryptic error messages will start to make sense and troubleshooting errant PCs becomes a little easier.

However, despite imparting some excellent guidance this book does have some flaws. For instance, Black squanders a couple of his "hours" discussing the role and responsibilities of a network administrator: whilst this might be interesting per se, its inclusion suggests that learning about networks requires less than twenty-four hours! Similarly, Black spends the last chapter speculating on the future of computer networks. It is almost as if he has run out of technical advice and resorts to conjecture to fill some space (and the requisite number of hours).

Overall, this book provides a useful insight into professional network management and offers an excellent description of layered protocols. However, the shortcomings diminish the desired effect and, given the relatively high cover price, the result is an offering of questionable value that fails to deliver the promise of the title.

Literally what it claims, "Teach yourself Networking in 24 hours". From start to finish, the book takes the reader through a step by step approach towards setting up a small office network system. After purchasing the book, I was literally able to connect five different computers via a wired network server and cable system in less than a day, and it worked first time; and as continued to run with no difficulties since. The book is simply what every small office without an IT engineer needs, it can quickly and without technical jargon allow any lay-person or inexperienced computer operator to determine the best way to set up a network, what parts to be used and how to troubleshoot the system if anything should not go as planned. The publication offers alternatives that serve a variety of different network specifications, and deals with not only wired-systems but also wi-fi options using either windows or other operating systems. Highly recommended and worth every penny.

I have two other books from this series. They are all good for what they set out to do - to be a basic run through for the subject. This one was a useful reminder about some basics on networking, security and so on. Combined with the TCP/IP book from the same series, I found it filled a need for me very well. This is not a comprehensive networking bible or reference work, but it is a good, easy to navigate and quick to read book that covers things in sufficient detail for many people.

The book was very easy for reading, very straightforward. It explains very good the network fundamentals and practical things like setting up a network.

I received the package in good order. There is a lot of information in the book, you need to do effort for owning it, in a very little amount. I appreciate the actuallity.