Packet Guide to Routing and Switching

Preface

For a long time, I was very happy building Ethernet networks, working with switches and then moving to 802.11. It took awhile, but eventually I realized that the world of interconnected networks cannot be reached with Layer 2 alone. In addition, as you spread your wings from the Layer 2 broadcast domains, you encounter the wonders of virtual local area networks and trunks. I became an “all over” networking sort of guy. Like my own progression, this book moves up to the next layers and ideas.

If you read the Packet Guide to Core Network Protocols (O’Reilly), you have a handle on the type of communication seen on every single network (ARP, ICMP, IP, Ethernet), regardless of operating system or networking equipment vendor. This book now moves to the advanced link and internetwork layer protocols that will enable the reader to expand to internetworks and larger topologies.

Like the first book, each chapter will tear apart a particular protocol or set of ideas, explaining the structure and operation. The discussion will be supported by ample packet captures. There is nothing theoretical about the stuff between these covers: the topologies depicted in each chapter were built in a lab as the chapters took form.

And like the first book, what you see here will be part of every network that you encounter. So, the practices, ideas and protocols seen here will continue to help you on your way for many years to come. I’ll also continue to refer to and work with networking tables including ...