What This Book Covers

Chapter 1 contains a general introduction to computer networks. The ISO OSI model is mentioned and compared with the TCP/IP protocol family.

Chapter 2 acquaints the reader with the basics of network sniffing. Network sniffing is demonstrated with the help of two tools: MS Network Monitor and Ethereal. We use network sniffing as our basic means to clarify principles of particular protocols.

Chapter 3 deals with the physical layer. Concretely, it deals with serial lines, modems, ISDN, and LAN.

Chapter 4 deals with a link layer. It describes the SLIP, CSLIP, PPP, FrameRelay, Ethernet, WiFi (IEEE 802.11), and FWA protocols.

Chapter 5 describes the Internet Protocol (IP) including ICMP, IGMP, ARP, and RARP protocols.

Chapter 6 clarifies the meaning of an IP address and a network mask. It also emphasizes the historical process by which the meaning of the term IP network has developed.

Chapter 7 describes the term 'routing', which is, without any doubt, the most complicated area of IP networks. This chapter explains the principles on which particular types of routing protocols are based. However, a detailed description of individual routing protocols is beyond the scope of this publication.

Chapter 8 deals with the new IP generation—the Internet Protocol version 6.

Chapter 9 turns to the TCP protocol.

Chapter 10 describes the little brother of the TCP protocol—the UDP protocol.

Chapter 11 discusses the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates names into IP addresses and vice versa.

Chapter 12 describes the Telnet protocol. It is rarely used today, but because it is often a base of application protocols, we will use it to explain the principles of these application protocols (excluding the LDAP protocol).

Chapter 13 addresses the File Transfer protocol (FTP).

Chapter 14 describes probably the most popular protocol, HTTP.

Chapter 15 deals with electronic mail. It describes the following protocols: SMTP, ESMTP, POP3, IMAP4, and MIME; and even mailing lists are mentioned here.

Chapter 16 describes discussions forums (the NNTP protocol).

Chapter 17 deals with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

Appendix A contains the basic principles of working with CISCO routers for beginners.