Ethernet: The Definitive Guide
Book Review

By Dale Farris, Secretary Golden Triangle PC Club February 2003 General Overview This book is about Ethernet, a local area network (LAN) technology that allows you to connect a variety of computers together with a low-cost and extremely flexible network system. Virtually every computer manufacturer today supports Ethernet, and this broad support with its low cost and high flexibility are major reasons for the popularity of Ethernet. Author Spurgeon's book provides in one volume a comprehensive and practical source of information on the entire Ethernet system. The goal of the book is to be definitive, to describe the entire range of Ethernet technology specified in the IEEE standard for Ethernet. This includes 10 Mbps Ethernet, 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet, 1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet, full-duplex Ethernet, descriptions of all Ethernet media systems, and repeaters and repeater configuration guidelines. Also described in the book are switching hubs, structured cabling systems, network management, and troubleshooting. Focus of the Book This super book shows how Ethernet components can be combined to create Ethernet LANs. While some basic network designs are shown in the book, there are an infinite number of network designs that can be built using Ethernet, ranging from the smallest workgroup on up to very large enterprise networks that support tens of thousands of computers. The design of complete network systems that use Ethernet to carry data between computers is a major subject in the book, and a number of books are needed to describe all of the issues that can be encountered. Since the book is about how Ethernet technology works, the author remains focused on this topic. As any experienced computer network administrator knows, this topic has more than enough detail for any single book to cover. Key Topics An introduction to the Ethernet standard which describes Ethernet operation in detail. This includes those portions of Ethernet that are common to all Ethernet media systems. Description of each of the Ethernet media systems, including 10-, 100-, and 100 Mbps systems operating over twisted-pair and fiber optic cables. The older coaxial media systems are described in Appendix B. Description of structured cabling systems and the components and cables used in building an Ethernet system. This includes twisted-pair and fiber optic cables, and repeater and switching hubs. Description of Ethernet performance and Ethernet troubleshooting Appendixes and glossary Table of Contents The book is organized into four main sections, including Part 1, Introduction to Ethernet, Part 2, Ethernet Media Systems, Part 3, Building Your Ethernet System, and Part 4, Performance and Troubleshooting. The fifth part includes the appendixes. The twenty (20) chapters include the following titles. The Evolution of Ethernet The Ethernet System The Media Access Control Protocol Full Duplex Ethernet Auto Negotiation Ethernet Media Fundamentals Twisted-Pair Media System (10BASE-T) Fiber Optic Media System (10BASE-F) Fast Ethernet Twisted-Pair Media System (100BASE-TX) Fast Ethernet Fiber Optic Media System (100BASE-FX) Gigabit Ethernet Twisted-Pair Media System (100BASE-T) Multi-Segment Configuration Guidelines Structured Cabling Twisted-Pair Cables and Connectors Fiber Optic Cables and Connectors Ethernet Repeater Hubs Ethernet Switching Hubs Ethernet Performance Troubleshooting The three appendixes include Appendix A, Resources, Appendix B, Thick and Thin Coaxial Media Systems, and Appendix C, AUI Equipment: Installation and Configuration. The book also has a super added glossary of key terms related to Ethernet systems. Target Readers The focus of this book is on setting up, managing, and troubleshooting Ethernet networks. As such, this title is mainly targeted to professionals who are responsible for these types of activities in their organizations. The book's collection of resources in Appendix A will most definitely be of great value to this targeted group, as these resources are all URLs of Web sites that provide information on the topic, or refer readers to vendors that sell Ethernet related products. All IS teams will most definitely want to add this title to their library of resources. Also, any student working on their Microsoft or Novell certification will want to give this book serious attention, and educational institutions offering certification exam preparation classes will also find this book to be a super resource to provide in their curriculum or their library. Book Contents 520 pages; preface; acknowledgments; figures; tables, appendixes; glossary; index; cover colophon Author Charles E. Spurgeon About the Author Charles E. Spurgeon is the senior network architect at the University of Texas at Austin, overseeing a network that supports more than 30,000 computers. He has worked on large campus networks for over 20 years, beginning in 1979 when he used to "test" network equipment by using it to read the Science Fiction Lover's Digest over the ARPANET. In the 1980s, he helped develop the Stanford University network, which included building a number of prototype Cisco Systems routers and linking them together with Xerox PARC's experimental Ethernet running at 3 Mbps. In 1994, he created what is widely known as the most comprehensive and popular Ethernet site. Charles, who attended Wesleyan University, lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Joann Zimmerman, and their cat, Sophie. In his spare time he reads seafaring novels, science fiction, mysteries, and anything else he can find on the shelves of their 4,000 volume home library. This is his third book on Ethernet. ISBN February 2000, First Edition 1-56592-660-9 List Price $44.95 $65.95 CAN Publisher Contact Marsee Henon marsee@oreilly.com O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. 1005 Gravenstein Highway North Sebastopol, California 95472 707-827-7000 800-998-9938 FAX 707-829-0104 www.oreilly.com