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Wide Area Network Design: Concepts & Tools for Optimization
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Author: Robert Cahn
List Price: $81.95
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 1558604588
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann (15 July, 1998)
Edition: Hardcover
Sales Rank: 198,304
Average Customer Rating: 2.71 out of 5
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Customer ReviewsRating: 4 out of 5
Try reading the book before reviewing
It is true that if you are brand new to networking, this is not the first book you should purchase. And if you are looking for a "how to" book on programming a particular network device go buy one of those cisco instruction books. BUT, if you are a serious academic and want to understand what networks are REALLY all about (queuing and graph theory, etc.) this is one of the best introductory books on the subject. Cahn's preface speaks volumes about the trend in technology education: if all you've learned was how to work on particular products, when something new comes along, you have to start all over again. But if you gain "design sophistication", you will understand how to use new networking protocols and technologies as they emerge. His book is about the *science* of networks, which is timeless, NOT the technology which is much more fleeting.
If all you want to do is design and operate a network that works "good enough" then you don't need this book. But if you want to understand how to design and optimize a network using theory rather than just throwing money at buying more bandwidth, Cahn's book is where you start. I only give 4 stars because the software that comes with the book only works with Windows 98 and is difficult to manipulate. The book itself is a great resource.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Not good for starters.
Let me tell you upfront that I haven't read this book, I am pondering on buying it. However I feel that I can compile the previous reponses to this book which may be useful to the other buyers. Based on the prior reviews, the people who already knew a lot about it (like the guy with 9 years of telecom experience and the guy writing his PhD thesis) have said that it is an excellent book, while the people who are just learning the ropes have really disliked it. Hence my feeling is that this book is good for someone who already knows quite a bit of the telecom protocols, standards, and tools and is planning to learn more about WAN. By the way, I wish some reviewers abstained from personal attacks (ad hominem) and sticked to the critique of the book. As we all know, authors could be very knowledgeable of the subject but yet do a poor job of making it all coherent (happens to the best of them; it is a difficult job). As a critic it is useful to point out as to where the text lacks and oversaw rather than question the credibility of the author himself. I hope you understand what I mean.
Rating: 4 out of 5
More math than expected
Hi thereThis book includes more math than practical examples, and is
such more on the theoretical side of network design. But I think the book is great, and the examples are fruit for
thought, just a pitty some of the other reviewers aren't grown
up so they can recognize it. I have used it several times for my thesis about IPv6 network design
- even though it doesn't mention IPv6 at all! Best regards
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