Bookpool: Computer Networking First-Step

Your First Step into the world of Computer Networking

Gain an understanding of internetworking basics with this reader-friendly guid
Learn about LANs, WANs, remote access, and security in the first Cisco Press book any novice should read

Computer Networking First-Step is an accessible, easy-to-understand introduction to the language of the Internet. While not everyone needs to understand how to configure a router, many people are setting up Local Area Networks in their own homes, utilizing routing protocols to access the Internet, and installing firewalls to protect their computers. These consumers of internetworking technology and aspiring network administrators need a starting point to gain a handle on the often-cryptic acronyms and terminology of the Internet. This book is the perfect companion for these non-technical users, whether they plan to continue with their study of internetworking or simply need a foundation understanding of the concepts to help them at home or on the job.

Computer Networking First-Step assumes no previous knowledge of networking. Divided into six parts, the book provides an overview of each of the major components of modern networks, including networking basics, Local Area Networks (LANs), routing, addressing, Wide Area Networks (WANs) and remote access, and finally, security. Each chapter introduces a topic, defines terms and functions, and puts those functions in the context of a typical network operation. Explanations are clear and concise, and figures and analogies are used liberally to convey and illustrate concepts. Each chapter opens with a specific set of learning objectives and concludes with a chapter summary and chapter review.

Jan 25, 2005 Rich Hill (richhillkc@netscape.net) from Kansas City, MO
Network Introduction for the Whole Family
In addition to my regular network engineering job, I am also a networking instructor at a local university branch campus. As such, I am always on the lookout for good analogies I can use in the networking courses I teach. When you explain networking to beginners, you really have to step back to the first principles ever so often, in order to make sure you have the basic in your head, as well as the complex. For this reason, I decided to check out Computer Networking First-Step (ISBN 1-58720-101-1) from Cisco Press. The first thing I noticed when I picked up the book was the author. I first discovered Wendell Odom a few years ago when I was recertifying my CCNA certification. I like how he uses examples and humor to explain concepts and has an easy, conversational style to his writing which makes it easy to read. With a lot of technical authors, reading their books can seem like a job, but not with Odom. I recommend everything he's written.

The book itself is substantial, at over 400 pages, and is priced quite reasonably, at just $24.95. It's broken down into 18 chapters which can each be read in a short sitting. Since each chapter encapsulates a single topic, you reach a feeling of accomplishment and completion at the end of each one. This is good for people new to computer networking. If you make the chapters too long, they can easily feel overwhelmed. These chapters are just right. In the intro, the book says that it is divided up into bite sized pieces for easy digestion. I thoroughly agree with that assessment.

The chapters are grouped together into sections covering networking basics, LANs, protocols, routing, WANs, and security. As you can see, the book covers a lot of ground. The thing that impressed me most was that at no point does it get overly technical. Odom picks an analogy (networks = roads) and sticks with it throughout the entire book. In the early chapters, it works perfectly. In some of the later chapters, it's a stretch, but he makes it work. I will be using the analogies from this book in teaching my beginning networking courses and would recommend it as a textbook, or at least as suggested reading for a freshman level networking course. I am also recommending this book to spouses of computer geeks (my wife, in particular). She's never really tried to understand what I do, saying that it's far too technical. I think the easy-to-read style and the bite-sized information may make this the book that gets my wife into networking. My son, who's an exceptional 2nd grader, has begun picking up this book during his reading time at night (the scary part is that he understands the material). While I don't recommend this book to the average 2nd grader, I do think that it could be used to help teach networking to middle and high school students. The review questions at the end of each chapter provide a good way for students to check their learning and the answers at the back of the book provide good explanations.

Sep 20, 2004 Ranger75 from So Cal
Great book for beginners or review
Computer Networking first-step (ISBN 1-58720-101-1) by: Wendall Odom This book is very deceiving by the title. Computer Networking first-steps. At first glance you think this book is for people that have never been involved with this topic. However reading this book quickly dissolves your negative thoughts. I was really quite surprised at the detail presented in this book at a very easy to understand level. It can be used as a new learner book or an expert review book on the topic. The books author Wendell Odom is a very knowledgeable person with a gift of being able to present complicated material in layman terms and the author of a few other great titles. Im impressed with his writing style and methods, I used his CCNA book a few years ago for my CCNA test, I recently read his DQOS book for another test I took, which is one of the reasons I chose this book to use as a review guide Why should you read this book? I have a few reasons. First I let my computer illiterate Sr. VP of Operations read this book. His response was thank you, now I finally understand some of what my engineers are talking about, and I can hold conversations and speak reasonably intelligently on the subject. The next reason is the book uses dinosaurs, cartoon characters and everyday examples that allow the reader to rapidly, learn easily and retain the material presented. This saves time in having to re-read the material multiple times to truly understand what the author is trying to say. I personally think this first-step series is a very smart idea to allow people new to any subject area to learn quickly in an entertaining environment. My favorite things about this book are it is a medium sized book. The author presents things in order that builds on the previous chapter in order to help the reader follow along easier. The material is presented with enough material to help the reader gain knowledge and feel confident on what they just read. The last reason I like it is that it has everything form basic network concepts to more advanced topics, giving the reader a step up on a wide range of topics. I plan on buying all the first-step series books to either quickly learn a new subject or to review long forgotten or seldom used information If only they had the CCIE first-step series, I would have passed my lab the first time. If you need a fun, and proven way of learning anything in the IT field, I would highly recommend looking for it in the first-step series. The first-step series continues the awesome Cisco Press tradition of providing of getting knowledgeable authors to write outstanding books, which help people learn. BW Senior Network Engineer

Aug 6, 2004 Branden McIntyre from Newtown, CT
A very good book with a few problems
There has been one fundamental problem when one wants to learn networking; where to start. Wendell Odom tries to overcome this problem in Cisco Press Computer Networking first step. While this book is not perfect, it is one of the best books Ive found to date to introduce network concepts. He has done an excellent job covering a much wider range of material than I would have thought possible in a 457 page book. However, as with all books, it comes with ups and downs.

Overall, this book introduces a wide range of concepts to a reader with little to no experience with networking. In the beginning of the book Mr. Odom starts by explaining exactly what a network is, and by the end he has introduced everything from VLANS to AAA. This wide range of material allows the reader to get a broad view of the networking landscape in a very short amount of time.

I have always had one major problem with introductory networking books; the pictures have always been either non-existent or useless. Originally I started reading Cisco Press books because of their high quality illustrations and network diagrams, and they continue this tradition in Computer Networking first step. In areas there do seem to be a few too many pictures, but overall they are very well done.

While I did enjoy Computer Networking first step, there were a few areas that did annoy me. The chief annoyance was the constant metaphors between networking and driving. While it worked quite well in the beginning of the book, it got tiresome after 457 pages. This constant reference to driving ended up confusing me more than helping me. This may partly be due to the fact that I already knew all of the material covered by the book, but it was irritating. However, networking is a very hard subject to introduce, and a metaphor to something that everyone can understand may be quite helpful to those who have never touched a network in real life.

My second complaint really isnt any fault of the book, but really the sheer amount knowledge needed for a proper introduction to networking. With such a wide range of material covered in 457 pages, nothing gets covered in any real depth. The entire chapter on network monitoring is 16 pages long, while I have read 500+ page books on the subject. So as long as one understands Computer Networking first step is an introductory book and doesnt expect to be an expert, I would highly recommend it.

Jul 31, 2004 Reviewer: Fuller Stallworth, BSIT, IT Infrastructure Analyst from Washington, DC Metropolitan Area
Readers . . . challenged to find and take a better fist step!
Reviewer Certification(s): MCSE, MCP+I, MCP, i-Net+, Network+, Server+, A+, and former CCNA

Whether you are approaching network technology for the first time and just want to learn to talk the talk, or are interested in pursuing a career in networking and really want to learn to walk the walk, Computer Networking first-step provides a sure-footed, easy to follow guide into the ubiquitous world of computer networking.

Author Wendell Odom, both a Cisco Certified Internetworking Engineer and a senior instructor, helps you get up to speed effortlessly as you develop your networking knowledge. Using everyday terminology and examples familiar to every reader at any level, concept upon concept is introduced and discussed within the framework of the layered approach to networking. All concepts are presented through analogy, or comparisons, that allow the reader to benefit from direct associations between the known -- things that are already familiar -- and the unknown -- new or unfamiliar topics. For the reader, this translates into a drastically shortened learning curve, significantly improved practical aptitude at the foundational level, and substantially increased conversational grace in explaining computer networking topics to the less informed.

Computer Networking first-step covers the most relevant fundamentals necessary to those new to networking. Topics include: 1. Networking hardware; 2. Network connections; 3. Network communications; 4. Local Area Networks; 5. Network routing; 6. Wide Area Networks; and 7. Network security. You will learn from an expert how to set up and establish basic networking, and by default, what to consider when the network malfunctions.

Ample step-by-step illustrations throughout the discussions allow readers the opportunity to learn at a graduated pace as each concept is applied to the development of various, but similar, small-scale computer networks. Readers therefore benefit immensely from the visual presentation of networking technology, concepts, and fundamentals in meaningful style -- as basic network development skill are employed to demonstrate practical application both clearly and concisely. Consequently, basic network design is learned transparently -- in building block fashion -- while the reader moves through each topic.

Computer Networking first-step also includes two appendixes appendix A which reiterates all questions from every chapter, answers included and appendix B which demonstrates converting IP addresses between decimal and binary. In addition, the book provides a glossary full of useful and perhaps easily forgotten terms and an index -- allowing for seamless cross-referencing and search of the contents of the book.

Computer Networking first-step provides excellent grounding in the basic operating characteristics and functions of network technology and provides readers, unfamiliar with networking, that vital first step toward understanding and working with network technology -- not to mention earning an entry-level certification in networking. Every topic is presented in the richly informative style consistent with Wendell Odom's earlier works -- each of which Odom has "put it down" in precise terms -- suitable for any reader so inclined to learn about network technology and networking.

Despite a few insignificant discrepancies, this book is definitely a five star addition to anyone's reference collection. First, the discrepancies are easily discovered. Second, they need little or no analytical skill. Third, the discrepancies are easily corrected. And last of course, the reader gets an opportunity to troubleshoot his or her own understanding of the subject matter presentation -- a significant imperative for those readers interested in pursuing a career in computer networking rather than just a casual acquaintance with network technology and networking in general.

While Computer Networking first-step is definitely not an attempt to prepare the reader for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) examination, it justifiably serves its purpose well in both the amount of networking knowledge transfer that occurs and the level of networking knowledge imparted as a result of reading the book. In fact, the book is actually dual purposed. Primarily it is a book on the subject of computer networking. Second, it's a book of analogies useful for both learning the concepts and fundamentals of networking as well as for conveying those very same concepts and fundamentals to laymen in terms that many a layman will appreciate.

For those reasons, among a host of others, I highly recommend Computer Networking first-step to the aspiring networking professional. Interested readers will be well challenged to find and take a better first step!

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