Data Network Design: Packet Switching, Frame Relay, 802.6/DQDB (SMDS), ATM (B-ISDN), SONET (McGraw-Hill Series on Computer Communications)

£22.73

Excellent book on data communication technologies! - This was very comprehensive book covering how the X.25, packet switching, Frame Relay, SMDS, and ATM data technologies work. It also does a good job of explaining how the various protocols interoperate by encapsulating packets, cells, or frames of data into their own packet, cell or frame formats. Very readable. The book has lots of diagrams and is not too technical. I learned a lot from the book and would recommend it to anyone seeking an in-depth overview of data communications systems. This book did not really teach me how to design data networks, but I feel I have a much better understanding of how data networks function since reading this book. My only complaint with the book is the excessive use of acronyms. While the acronyms are listed in the back of the book in a table, their pervasive use in the text was annoying and made it harder to understand. A minor irritant, at worst. My best testament to the book is that I lost my original copy and was so dismayed by the prospect of not finishing it that I spent another $65 to buy a second copy!

All Around Great Reference - Provides in-depth material on all types of network topics, plus some good information on why to implement a network. Some of the diagrams are too small and hard to read.

Needs better cross reference - Index is lacking. Not every technical term is indexed nor defined in the glossary. A good general reference on all network conecepts.

Good summary of frame relay - This book has been the most accurate reference on Frame Relay I have found