TCP/IP Network Administration, 3rd Edition
Book Review

By Dale Farris, Secretary Golden Triangle PC Club February 2003 General Overview The first edition of this super, massive book was written in 1992. Since then, many things have changed, but some things remain the same. TCP/IP is still the preeminent communications protocol for linking together diverse computer systems. It remains the basis of interoperable data communications and global computer networking. The underlying Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) are remarkably unchanged. However, change has come in the way TCP/IP is used and how it is managed. For example, how many folks do you know that you could classify as "computer illiterate," but still manage to send and receive email? In truth, underlying today's now simplified user interface and user-friendly software is a functioning TCP/IP protocol stack, a dynamically managed, assigned IP address, and the processing of data types unheard of 10 years ago. Ten years ago however, TCP/IP was a tool only of sophisticated users. Network administrators managed a limited number of systems and could count on the users for a certain level of technical knowledge. In 2002, the need for highly trained network administrators is greater than ever, because the user base is larger, more diverse, and less capable of handling technical problems on their own. This book provides the information needed to become an effective TCP/IP network administrator. This book was the first book of practical information for the professional TCP/IP network administrator, and is still one of the best around. Since the first edition, there has been an explosion of books on TCP/IP and the Internet. The main advantage of this book is its focused concentration on what a system administrator really needs to know about TCP/IP administration. The concern here is the practical, detailed network information needed by the Unix system administrator. The book strives to focus on TCP/IP and Unix, and to find the right balance of theory and practice. Key Topics Guide to setting up and running a TCP/IP network Geared toward systems administrators Fundamentals of protocols Addresses and routing used to move data through the network How to set up network connections Advanced routing protocols (RIPv2, OSPF, BGP) gated software packages Tutorial on configuring network services DNS, Apache, sendmail, Samba, PPP, DHCP TCP/IP troubleshooting and security Command and syntax reference for gated, pppd, named, dhcpd, sendmail Samba file and print sharing on networks that integrate Windows and Unix Configuring the Apache server Network security Details on OpenSSH, stunned, gpg, iptables, and xinetd access control Updated information on DNS Details on BIND 8 and BIND 9 Role of classless IP addressing Network prefixes Changing role of registrars Covers Linux, Solaris, BSD, System V TCP/IP implementations Table of Contents The book is organized into thirteen (13) chapters, plus seven (7) appendixes. The thirteen (13) chapters include the following titles. Overview of TCP/IP Delivering the Data Network Services Getting Started Basic Configuration Configuring the Interface Configuring Routing Configuring DNS Local Network Services sendmail Configuring Apache Network Security Troubleshooting TCP/IP The seven (7) appendixes include Appendix A, PPP Tools, Appendix B, A gated Reference, Appendix C, A named Reference, Appendix D, A dhcpd Reference, Appendix E, A sendmail Reference, Appendix F, Solaris httpd.conf File, and Appendix G, RFC Excerpts. Target Readers The book is intended for everyone who has a Unix computer connected to a TCP/IP network. This includes the network managers and the system administrators who are responsible for setting up and running computers and networks, but it also includes any user who wants to understand how their computer communicates with other systems. The book does assume readers have a good understanding of computers and their operation and that they are generally familiar with Unix system administration. If you are not, you might want to check out the book, "Essential System Administration, 3rd Edition," by Æleen Frisch. Book Contents 752 pages; preface; acknowledgments; figures; tables, appendixes; index; cover colophon Author Craig Hunt About the Author Craig Hunt has worked with computer systems for the last 26 years. His first computer job was as a programmer and systems programmer for the federal government. He left the government to work for Honeywell on the WWMCCS network in the days before TCP/IP, back when the global network used NCP. After Honeywell, Craig went to work for the National Institute of Standards and Testing (NIST) where he built their first enterprise TCP/IP network, administered the central servers on that network, and eventually moved into network research. Craig left NIST to work full time writing and teaching about Linux, Unix, and networking. In addition to TCP/IP Network Administration, Craig has written four (4) other books, co-authored two (2), and edited five (5). He teaches Linux, Unix, and networking tutorials at major conferences such as USENIX and LinuxWorld. To find out more about what he is doing, visit his web site www.wrotethebook.com. Craig lives with his wife and youngest daughter in Gaithersburg, Maryland .He loves the outdoors, and has a newly discovered passion for exploring it on his mountain bike. ISBN April 2002, Third Edition 0-596-00297-1 List Price $44.95 $69.95 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