Tcp/Ip Complete (Complete Series)

Network architect and consultant Ed Taylor has condensed all of the information he's found useful over the years into this book. While his guide is intended for serious techies, it does tackle introductory as well as advanced topics in a just-the-facts manner.

Taylor goes through the entirety of TCP/IP systematically, explaining all the systems, components, and applications in clear, if sometimes terse, prose. The text is richly enhanced by a wide variety of charts, diagrams, and illustrations, making the information easy for beginning and intermediate users to follow. Taylor pushes for a holistic approach to network management, urging his readers to keep an eye on the long-term consequences of their choices rather than just the short-term results. The companion CD-ROM provides a searchable database of TCP/IP-related Request for Comments (RFC) documents, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) supplements, and information on the year 2000 problem. -- Elizabeth Lewis