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Computer Networks

Andrew S. Tanenbaum

First published 1981 · 960 pages

A satisfying, structured journey that transforms the invisible magic of the internet into clear, comprehensible engineering.

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What it feels like

Reading this feels like sitting in the lecture hall of a brilliant, slightly wry professor who possesses the rare gift of making the impossibly complex seem entirely logical. The pace is steady and methodical, guiding you layer by layer through the invisible architecture that powers our digital lives. It trades the dry, impenetrable jargon of typical manuals for a surprisingly readable, illuminating prose style that rewards patience with profound moments of realization. The mood is deeply intellectual yet grounded, building a satisfying sense of mastery as the abstract concepts of routing, protocols, and security snap into sharp focus. It is a foundational experience that delights curious minds who crave a deep, structural understanding of how the modern world connects.

Mood
  • intellectual
  • structured
  • illuminating
  • focused
Tone
  • authoritative
  • clear
  • pragmatic
  • dryly witty
  • instructive
Pace
steady
Themes
systems thinking · technological foundations · architectural design · the invisible infrastructure of the modern world
The writing
Methodical and highly readable, breaking down dense technical concepts with precision and occasional flashes of dry humor.
The arc
Moves from a sense of overwhelming complexity to the satisfying clarity of understanding how the digital world connects.
Who it's for
Curious engineers, computer science students, and tech professionals who want to look under the hood of the internet.

About the book

A contemporary, yet classic, introduction to today's key networking technologies

Computer Networks, Fifth Edition, is the ideal introduction to the networking field. This bestseller reflects the latest networking technologies with a special emphasis on wireless networking, including 802.11, 802.16, BluetoothTM, and 3G cellular, paired with fixed-network coverage of ADSL, Internet over cable, gigabit Ethernet, MLPS, and peer-to-peer networks. Notably, this latest edition incorporates new coverage on 3G mobile phone networks, Fiber to the Home, RIFD, delay-tolerant networks, and 802.11 security, in addition to expanded material on Internet routing, multicasting, congestion control, quality of service, real-time transport, and content distribution.

Authors Andrew Tanenbaum and Davis Wetherall describe the inner facets of the network, exploring its functionality from underlying hardware to applications, including:

Physical layer (e.g., copper, fiber, wireless, satellites, and Internet over cable) Data link layer (e.g., protocol principles, protocol verification, HDLC, and PPP) MAC Sublayer (e.g., gigabit Ethernet, 802.11, broadband wireless, and switching) Network layer (e.g., routing algorithms, congestion control, QoS, IPv4, and IPv6) Transport layer (e.g., socket programming, UDP, TCP, RTP, and network performance) Application layer (e.g., e-mail, the Web, PHP, wireless Web, MP3, and streaming audio) Network security (e.g., AES, RSA, quantum cryptography, IPsec, and Web security)

The book dissects and depicts the principles associated with each layer and then translates them through examples from the Internet and wireless networks.

Description from Open Library.

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