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Computer Networks
Now in its third edition, Professor Andrew Tanenbaum's 800-page book is the classic treatise on computer networking. Since its inception, Computer Networks has been the all-time best-selling overview of computer networks by one of the key computer science authors. It's a complete guide to computer networking, covering everything from LANs to satellite networks. The seven-layer OSI model underpins all modern networking technologies and this standard work from the award-winning Professor Tanenbaum devotes most of its chapters to in-depth descriptions of each layer. Protocols, network architecture and software are examined in detail, from the physical layer, through the data link, network, transport, session and presentation layers to the application layer. This book dissects very difficult material with ease.
But Computer Networks isn't without its faults--an eternity in Internet time has elapsed since publication and the book is a little stale as a result. It's also very much a textbook and its layout looks very dated and scholarly--for example, each chapter concludes with a mass of sample questions.
Oft found in countless bibliographies and on the recommended reading list for IT and networking students, Computer Networks is nevertheless an excellent textbook and a good reference book. It's also one of the best-written and easy to read technical books around. For the IT student and networking professionals alike, it's probably essential reading. If you can afford only one networking book, this is the one you should get. --Roger Gann
848 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
October 14, 2019
The book is an EXCELLENT read, and I'm quite certain it has contributed a great deal to helping me improve as a professional. I can't recommend it enough, especially for senior developers. I'm not sure about junior developers though.
August 25, 2010
Andrew Tenanbaum is one of the most prolific writers I’ve ever seen. He has written books on Distributed Operating Sytems, Computer Organisation, Operating Systems and Computer Networks.
Tanenbaum's Computer Networks is a good, solid introductory textbook on networking suitable for those with a computing background, either university students or computer professionals. I learned my basic networking from it six years ago and have been using it as a reference ever since. It uses a layer-based approach, starting at the bottom and working upwards. A very a wide range of material is covered; there is even an appendix on queuing theory.
The Introduction chapter gives a brief introduction about uses of computer networks, networking hardware, software, reference models and example networks like APRANET, NSFNET etc. A major difference between the 2nd and the 3rd edition is the shifting of focus from OSI model to TCP/IP model reflecting modern scenario.
The second chapter deals with the physical layer and gives information about the types of transmission media, wireless transmission, ISDN, cellular radio and communication satellites.
The third chapter deals with the data link layer and discusses the design issues, error detection, error correction, protocols, protocol specification and verification using Finite State Machine Models and Petrinets and example data link layer protocols.
The fourth chapter deals with the Medium Access Sublayer and gives information about the various protocols, IEEE standards( 802.3, 802.4, 802.5, 802.6 etc), bridges, LANS and satellite networks. The fifth chapter dealing with the network layer discusses design issues, routing algorithms, congestion control, inter-network, the network layer in internet and ATM networks.
The chapter on Transport layer deals with transport service, TCP, UDP, ATM AAL protocols and performance issues. The last chapter( Application layer) is very interesting and deals with security, DNS, SNMP, e-mail, WWW, cryptography and multimedia. Each of the chapters has been explained in a very down-to-earth style. The language is easy to follow.
In addition each chapter has a short summary followed by a large set of problems. The problem set is very useful. The only drawback is the lack of a solution manual to the problem sets.In case one wants to follow up a certain chapter a suggested reading list is provided.
To sum up, I’d say that this book is an excellent introductory book to computer networks. Plus points: excellent explanation, reasonably priced, good problem set. Minus points: needs a solution manual :D
Computer Networks is still one of the best general texts on networking I know of, however, and it deserves to survive to a fifth edition.
Thank you Dr Andrew S Tanenbaum!
Tanenbaum's Computer Networks is a good, solid introductory textbook on networking suitable for those with a computing background, either university students or computer professionals. I learned my basic networking from it six years ago and have been using it as a reference ever since. It uses a layer-based approach, starting at the bottom and working upwards. A very a wide range of material is covered; there is even an appendix on queuing theory.
The Introduction chapter gives a brief introduction about uses of computer networks, networking hardware, software, reference models and example networks like APRANET, NSFNET etc. A major difference between the 2nd and the 3rd edition is the shifting of focus from OSI model to TCP/IP model reflecting modern scenario.
The second chapter deals with the physical layer and gives information about the types of transmission media, wireless transmission, ISDN, cellular radio and communication satellites.
The third chapter deals with the data link layer and discusses the design issues, error detection, error correction, protocols, protocol specification and verification using Finite State Machine Models and Petrinets and example data link layer protocols.
The fourth chapter deals with the Medium Access Sublayer and gives information about the various protocols, IEEE standards( 802.3, 802.4, 802.5, 802.6 etc), bridges, LANS and satellite networks. The fifth chapter dealing with the network layer discusses design issues, routing algorithms, congestion control, inter-network, the network layer in internet and ATM networks.
The chapter on Transport layer deals with transport service, TCP, UDP, ATM AAL protocols and performance issues. The last chapter( Application layer) is very interesting and deals with security, DNS, SNMP, e-mail, WWW, cryptography and multimedia. Each of the chapters has been explained in a very down-to-earth style. The language is easy to follow.
In addition each chapter has a short summary followed by a large set of problems. The problem set is very useful. The only drawback is the lack of a solution manual to the problem sets.In case one wants to follow up a certain chapter a suggested reading list is provided.
To sum up, I’d say that this book is an excellent introductory book to computer networks. Plus points: excellent explanation, reasonably priced, good problem set. Minus points: needs a solution manual :D
Computer Networks is still one of the best general texts on networking I know of, however, and it deserves to survive to a fifth edition.
Thank you Dr Andrew S Tanenbaum!
March 18, 2010
This book was a bit of a disappointment. While it's not *bad*, Tanenbaum's reputation and the pretty ridiculous price led me to believe it would be *great*, which it definitely isn't.
Tanenbaum has an unhealthy habit of trying to bullshit his way through sections he doesn't have a firm grip on himself, which was particularly apparent in certain sections on the Physical Layer. Since he actually has a PhD in Physics, I suppose it's possible he just wrote an in-depth explanation, then realised his readers didn't need or want such depth, and so started cutting the more complicated parts of it, without paying attention to whether what he had left in the end was still entirely coherent. Either way, it's not something you want to see in a textbook author.
Some of his chapters also feel poorly structured; for instance, in the middle of the Network Layer, he includes a fairly detailed description of a p2p protocol which clearly belongs in the Application Layer. He also includes a large section on HTML, XML, and XHTML, which I doubt would have been necessary (or even relevant to a networking student) by 2003.
Another problem I have with the book is that Tanenbaum seems a bit too convinced wireless is the wave of the future, and spends considerably more time on wireless protocols than I think they really deserve. That could be my own biases talking, though.
Other than that, it's a pretty solid textbook. Very few things he says are actually wrong, and to be fair, it's not intended as a book you read cover to cover, like I did. Many of its problems would disappear entirely in a classroom setting.
Be prepared, though: his code examples use a proportional font.
Tanenbaum has an unhealthy habit of trying to bullshit his way through sections he doesn't have a firm grip on himself, which was particularly apparent in certain sections on the Physical Layer. Since he actually has a PhD in Physics, I suppose it's possible he just wrote an in-depth explanation, then realised his readers didn't need or want such depth, and so started cutting the more complicated parts of it, without paying attention to whether what he had left in the end was still entirely coherent. Either way, it's not something you want to see in a textbook author.
Some of his chapters also feel poorly structured; for instance, in the middle of the Network Layer, he includes a fairly detailed description of a p2p protocol which clearly belongs in the Application Layer. He also includes a large section on HTML, XML, and XHTML, which I doubt would have been necessary (or even relevant to a networking student) by 2003.
Another problem I have with the book is that Tanenbaum seems a bit too convinced wireless is the wave of the future, and spends considerably more time on wireless protocols than I think they really deserve. That could be my own biases talking, though.
Other than that, it's a pretty solid textbook. Very few things he says are actually wrong, and to be fair, it's not intended as a book you read cover to cover, like I did. Many of its problems would disappear entirely in a classroom setting.
Be prepared, though: his code examples use a proportional font.
June 14, 2024
Seriously one of the favorites.
August 3, 2011
Excellent book for anyone looking to pick up advanced networking knowledge. Topics have been relevant to my career and I continue to refer to this book. The information covers a broad range of topics; however, remains detailed enough to give a thorough explanation.
April 18, 2015
Великолепная книга. Я даже рад тому, что не изучал сети в университете. Понятные объяснения, немного юмора и вот - один из самых крутых учебников, что я читал.
May 3, 2024
به یاد استاد عزیزم، دکتر پاکروان. 🤍
March 26, 2021
This book is so broad that is hard to specify its target user. The book covers very high-level topics like the importance of Computer Networks in our day-to-day life to very low-level topics like the composition of the cables and the mathematics used to transform the bits into waves and vice versa.
I do not recommend reading it cover to cover, just use it as a reference when you have a question. Otherwise, you will be frustrated with such an amount of information. I just read the introduction and the chapters about Application and Transport Layers.
For me, the best part of the book was in the Introduction when it shows how the theory behind the Reference Models differs from the practice for historic reasons. As a developer, It is very common to see such situations when technology cannot follow the velocity of the business demands or when we know some changes are necessary but the cost of the change would is so high that it is better to maintain the things the way they are.
The book uses very good analogies in some places like when it talks about layered architecture. But some other places did not receive the same attention and it caused me an impression that the author just throws a bunch of information. One clear example is when it talks a lot about HTML and CSS.
As a comparison, when in College, I read "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach" by Kurose and Ross. I don't know if it was because I had a good teacher that helped to explain and select the best parts of the book, but I think it was more didactic. And the top-down approach makes more sense in my head.
I do not recommend reading it cover to cover, just use it as a reference when you have a question. Otherwise, you will be frustrated with such an amount of information. I just read the introduction and the chapters about Application and Transport Layers.
For me, the best part of the book was in the Introduction when it shows how the theory behind the Reference Models differs from the practice for historic reasons. As a developer, It is very common to see such situations when technology cannot follow the velocity of the business demands or when we know some changes are necessary but the cost of the change would is so high that it is better to maintain the things the way they are.
The book uses very good analogies in some places like when it talks about layered architecture. But some other places did not receive the same attention and it caused me an impression that the author just throws a bunch of information. One clear example is when it talks a lot about HTML and CSS.
As a comparison, when in College, I read "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach" by Kurose and Ross. I don't know if it was because I had a good teacher that helped to explain and select the best parts of the book, but I think it was more didactic. And the top-down approach makes more sense in my head.
December 29, 2016
Best book to know the breadth of networking.
February 27, 2019
The language used here to explain, was so smooth to understand their points. Recommended!
May 26, 2020
"NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE BANDWITH OF A STATION WAGON FULL OF TAPES HURTLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY"
Netzwerkgrundlagen entlang des ISO/OSI- bzw. TCP/IP-Referenzmodells, dh. von der Hardware- hinauf zur Anwendungsschicht. Zudem bisschen Netzgeschichte (technisch & wirt./politisch) und zur Hierarchie & Arbeitsweise (inter)nationaler Standardisierungsorganisationen
Netzwerkgrundlagen entlang des ISO/OSI- bzw. TCP/IP-Referenzmodells, dh. von der Hardware- hinauf zur Anwendungsschicht. Zudem bisschen Netzgeschichte (technisch & wirt./politisch) und zur Hierarchie & Arbeitsweise (inter)nationaler Standardisierungsorganisationen
March 29, 2015
It's a very helpful and very complete book about networks. The main point is that it privileges the why over the how, so the boring mechanics takes second place to the reasons behind the choices made along a short but eventful history.
May 5, 2025
An excellent introduction to networking as well as a highly entertaining read. This book has cleared up a lot of mysteries for me.
I read the sixth edition and skipped about 40% of the book. I would have read it all if I had more time though!
I read the sixth edition and skipped about 40% of the book. I would have read it all if I had more time though!
December 13, 2010
One of the best written books of technology, Mr. Tanenbaum accomplished a very entertaining book with lots of examples, mixing technology and imagination he accomplished to create a classic.
June 5, 2013
i want to read this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2017
The book not just gives not knowledge. To me, it's given something more.
Thanks Andrew.
Thanks Andrew.
March 22, 2018
A great book to learn computer networking fundamental and all description ✌
September 29, 2019
800 pages, cover to cover but totally worth it. It's slightly outdated specially on application layer.
Want to read
March 14, 2020جلد دوم این کتاب هم برای دانشجو های کامپیوتر قابل استفاده نیست چرا که تمام مباحث مربوط به لایه های پایین شبکه است و بیشتر حول محور پروتکل ها و الگوریتم های اونهاست.
April 25, 2024
"Computer Networks, Fourth Edition by Andrew S. Tanenbaum is a comprehensive and accessible guide to the world of computer networks. This updated edition offers a deep dive into the latest networking technologies, including 802.11, broadband wireless, Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet, and more. Tanenbaum's expertise shines through as he provides clear explanations of complex concepts, from the physical layer up to the application layer.
What sets this book apart is Tanenbaum's ability to illustrate theoretical concepts with real-world examples, making the material both relatable and easy to understand. The inclusion of modern topics such as IPsec, AES, and quantum cryptography reflects the book's relevance to today's rapidly changing technological landscape.
Whether you are a student, professional, or just curious about how networks work, this book serves as an excellent introduction and reference guide. It's a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of computer networks."
What sets this book apart is Tanenbaum's ability to illustrate theoretical concepts with real-world examples, making the material both relatable and easy to understand. The inclusion of modern topics such as IPsec, AES, and quantum cryptography reflects the book's relevance to today's rapidly changing technological landscape.
Whether you are a student, professional, or just curious about how networks work, this book serves as an excellent introduction and reference guide. It's a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of computer networks."
October 16, 2019
A perfect book for beginners
The flow of the book is such that great detail is provided without being too heavy on the reader. Some parts may seem math-heavy, but one does not need to understand those fully (though that would be ideal) to appreciate the text. Also, wherever necessary, the authors provide the reasons for decisions in design, that makes understanding a lot of stuff much easier. All in all a great book, and an absolute must read!
The flow of the book is such that great detail is provided without being too heavy on the reader. Some parts may seem math-heavy, but one does not need to understand those fully (though that would be ideal) to appreciate the text. Also, wherever necessary, the authors provide the reasons for decisions in design, that makes understanding a lot of stuff much easier. All in all a great book, and an absolute must read!
July 26, 2019
More of a primer on Networks, but does the job. again things have moved on since this book was written, so new protocols, etc are not mentioned. But Wires are still wires, and switches are still switches. Used it to network my first two computers together as well as bought for Degree.
May 5, 2022
Content was pretty good and informative, the 3 stars is most because there are an insane amount of typos and misprints on some pages that made those pages almost impossible to read. It's the publisher/printer's fault mostly that this didn't get a better rating from me.
Good content though.
Good content though.
January 28, 2024
Kim ders kitabını buraya ekler ki diyeceksiniz ama bu efsane kitabı hala ara ara raftan alır herhangi bir yerini roman gibi okurum. Espirileri, yazım tarzı, kompleks konuları kolay anlatımı mükemmeldir.
January 15, 2018
بسمه تعالی
برای یاد گیری مبانی شبکه عالیست
برای یاد گیری مبانی شبکه عالیست
June 3, 2018
It helped a lot in understanding some of the basic concepts in networking. The book also presents some historical background so it was fun to read.
July 2, 2018
Книга больше о теории разработки протоколов и в этой области хороша. Но в целом, показалась несколько поверхностной.
August 25, 2018
My favourite book about Computer Networks. Describes in detail all things and it has great exercises. Excellent book!
May 8, 2019
I really enjoyed it. I had to read it for University, would read it again.
June 7, 2019
This was my course textbook.
Contains so much useful information.
Would love to see it updated, though, using the state-of-the-art tools such as Docker etc.
Contains so much useful information.
Would love to see it updated, though, using the state-of-the-art tools such as Docker etc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews