E-Business and Distributed Systems Handbook: Networks Module

Rating:
Summary: Ideal book to understanding the Internet and IP networks
Review: What is the Internet? How does it work? Why is it so important? These questions can be very confusing to someone without a computer science or IT background. After reading this Networks module, I feel I finally have a very good understanding of the power of the IP networks. I highly recommend this module to anyone with an iota of curiosity about the Internet.

Although it's not breezy reading, even as a business school student I had little trouble with the technical explanations. Dr. Umar uses real-world examples. In fact, the information is so practical that now I know the actual meaning behind terms such as Ethernet, LAN's, WAN's, MAN's, NIC, RJ45, cable modems, DSL, T1, T3, optical fiber, ATM Frame relay, etc. The module also covers Voice Over IP and the inevitable convergence of voice and data - no wonder phone companies are running scared. In addition, wireless technologies, cellular phones and 3G are also addressed.

I was mostly interested in distributed networks but the module also covered IBM's SNA and token ring networks reflecting Dr. Umar's experience with Big Blue's "big iron" mainframes. Nonetheless, it was still valuable information.