Computer Networks, 5th Edition

Preface

When the first edition of this book was published in 1996, it was a novelty to be able to order merchandise on the Internet, and a company that advertised its domain name was considered cutting edge. The primary way for a household to connect to the Internet was via a dial-up modem. Today, Internet commerce is a fact of life, and “.com” stocks have gone through an entire boom and bust cycle. Wireless networks are everywhere and new Internet-capable devices such as smartphones and tablets appear on the market at a dizzying pace. It seems the only predictable thing about the Internet is constant change.

Despite these changes, the question we asked in the first edition is just as valid today: What are the underlying concepts and technologies ...