Upgrading And Repairing Networks, 5th Edition (2006)

What Will You Find Inside?

This edition contains 57 chapters and 5 appendixes. To help you locate the information you need, the chapters are organized into 11 parts, each of which is detailed in this section.

Part I,

"Up Front: Network Planning and Design Concepts," is a great place to start reading if you are new to networks, network design, or network planning. The first chapter provides a short history of computer networking. Later chapters show you how to select the right network topology, how to prepare to implement a network, how to manage the network upgrade process, and how to protect a network and its data.

Part II,

"Physical Networking Components," covers the physical components that make up your network, from the network cables and network adapter cards to the devices that are used to connect these components, such as switches and routers. Part II ends with a discussion of network-based storage options (network attached storage and storage area networks).

Part III,

"Low-Level Network Protocols," is where you'll find information about many types of technologies you can use to transmit data across your network. This section starts with a review of the IEEE 802 network standards, followed by an in-depth look at the major LAN wire protocol: Ethernet, which continues to be on the cutting edge of network performance.

Part IV,

"Dedicated Connections and WAN Protocols," is designed to help you select the right network connection, whether you're a network administrator who needs to connect LANs across large distances or an individual user who needs a local dedicated connection to another LAN or the Internet. From dial-up and dedicated to cable and DSL, this section discusses the major WAN protocols available.

Part V,

"Wireless Networking Protocols," covers all flavors of the 802.11 family of wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi), including the many proprietary extensions now on the market and Bluetooth-based and PDA devices. To help you protect your wireless network, this section also discusses wireless encryption methods and best practices.
Part VI,

"LAN and WAN Network, Service, and Application Protocols," provides coverage of the TCP/IP protocol suite used in virtually all networks and WAN connections today, along with TCP/IP services, applications, and troubleshooting tools. Email protocols, IP address configuration methods, network name resolution, Active Directory, routing protocols, SSL, and the IPv6 protocol are also covered in this section.

Part VII,

"Network User and Resource Management," deals with managing users and controlling access to network resources, including folders, printers, and domains, on Windows NT, Windows Server, and Linux/Unix.
Part VIII,
"System and Network Security," helps you protect your network, regardless of size. From basic security measures and auditing the network, to protecting WAN connections, selecting and using firewall appliances and software, configuring and using VPNs, and using encryption, the tools and techniques you need to keep your network safe are discussed in this section.

Part IX,

"Troubleshooting Networks," provides strategies, tools, and techniques for troubleshooting enterprise, corporate, and small office/home office (SOHO) wired and wireless networks.

Part X,

"Upgrading Network Hardware," is a valuable reference if you want to move to the latest Ethernet hardware standards while trying to protect your investment in existing equipment where possible. One chapter discusses the issues involved in adding wireless networking to your existing wired network.

Part XI,

"Migration and Integration," covers the other side of the coin, upgrading from one operating system to another, as well as using multiple operating systems on the same network. This section discusses the many things that are common to most operating systems, as well as tools that can help you integrate a diverse collection of systems into a single heterogeneous network. Whether you are migrating from NetWare to Windows Server, upgrading older Windows networks to Windows Server 2003, or integrating Linux with your Windows or NetWare network, you'll find the information you need in this section.

The appendixes provide focused coverage of specialized information that applies to many chapters, including the OSI network reference model, a glossary of network terms, online resources for network administrators and builders, a discussion of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) products and configuration, and an introduction to setting up a SOHO network.
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