Understanding TCP/IP

* Chapter 1 is a general introduction to networking concepts the understanding of which is required for reading the book. The chapter introduces the Open System Interconnection (OSI) networking framework, which defines seven layers for implementing network protocols, and the simpler TCP/IP model. It also explains the three different data transmission methods: synchronous, asynchronous, and packet. * Chapter two focuses on tools that can be used to monitor data transfers on the network. Three tools are covered: MS Network Monitor and Ethereal. * Chapter 3 discusses the first of the seven layers of the OSI model: the physical layer. Serial lines, modems, digital circuits, and other hardware devices are covered. The chapter also explains how the choice of the physical layer depends on the choice of the link protocol, with emphasis on Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabyte. * Chapter 4 explains the link layer, focusing on the following link protocols: Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP), Compressed SLIP (CSLIP), High-level Data Link Control (HDLC), Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), Frame Relay, and Ethernet. * Chapter 5 talks about the Internet Protocol (IP). It covers IP datagram, Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Reverse ARP (RARP), and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP). * Chapter 6 covers IP addresses in IP version 4. The various classes of IP addresses, reserved IP addresses, net masks, subnetworks, and super networks. * Chapter 7 covers IP routing and IP forwarding, including handling routing tables; routing protocols, such as Routing Vector Protocols (RVP) and Link State Protocols (LSP); and Neutral Exchange Point (NIX). * Chapter 8 focused on IP version 6, which enlarges the IP address size from 4 to 16 bytes and introduces some changes to the IP datagram. * Chapter 9 covers the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the protocol that transfers data between applications on different computers. * Chapter 10 presents the simpler alternative to TCP, the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). * Chapter 11 covers the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates IP addresses into domain names and vice versa. * Chapter 12-17 covers a number of application protocols, namely Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, ESMTP, IMAP4, POP3, NNTP, and LDAP. * Appendix A covers working with CISCO routers. since CISCO is considered the dominant company in this area.