TCP/IP First-Step

(Your first step into the world of TCP/IP)

Reviewer Name: Steve Owen Scheiderer, Network Administrator

Reviewer Certification: MCSE NT 4.0, CCNA



ISBN: 1-58720-108-9



Mark A. Sportack has done a pretty good job presenting the world of TCP/IP to the beginner. Although the first part of Chapter 2 seems to rehash too much of Chapter 1, after that, the flow of most of the book more than makes up for it. He lays a good foundation from the perspective of whether timely or reliable communications is needed and what aspects of TCP/IP may be applied to the same. Good historical and practical insights are found throughout the text.



Unfortunately some of the figures in the book do not do the discussion justice. For example, Figure 3-6 and 3-8. The reader may have to slow down the pace to understand the point that is being made. His "Making Sense of the Chaos" (p. 57) discussion was well taken, but it took too long to get to the point. Figure 4-1 would have made more sense if it had been paralleled with the OSI model. While Figure 7.1 was supposed to have the network address portion of each IP address underlined, it did not. Figure 7-3 would have made more sense if each interface on the Internet Router had an IP address assigned. Figures 8-2 and 8-3 are confusing because the numbers 916 and 619 look like one might be a typo when discussing sequence of numbers.



Some of the discussion may be a bit advanced for the beginner but may be a bonus review for the intermediate. Sportack's Chapter 5 discussion and "This isn't stuff you'll need every day," may tip off the reader to the more advanced topics that may be helpful but not readily absorbed by the beginner. While his treatment of binary numbers, IP addressing and related topics is well done, again, at times it seems some of the subnetting discussion is too advanced. Chapter 9 seems to be redundant. Chapter 12's discussion of coaxial cable failed to point out that cable TV and network coaxial are not interchangeable (different ohm ratings).



The closing chapters would probably be the most helpful to the beginner and perhaps should have been placed at the beginning of the book. But sometimes the best is saved for last. Despite some of the challenges sited above, I'd recommend this book to the beginning TCP/IP student.

TCP/IP First-Step
(Your first step into the world of TCP/IP)
Reviewer Name: Steve Owen Scheiderer, Network Administrator
Reviewer Certification: MCSE NT 4.0, CCNA

ISBN: 1-58720-108-9

Mark A. Sportack has done a pretty good job presenting the world of TCP/IP to the beginner. Although the first part of Chapter 2 seems to rehash too much of Chapter 1, after that, the flow of most of the book more than makes up for it. He lays a good foundation from the perspective of whether timely or reliable communications is needed and what aspects of TCP/IP may be applied to the same. Good historical and practical insights are found throughout the text.

Unfortunately some of the figures in the book do not do the discussion justice. For example, Figure 3-6 and 3-8. The reader may have to slow down the pace to understand the point that is being made. His "Making Sense of the Chaos" (p. 57) discussion was well taken, but it took too long to get to the point. Figure 4-1 would have made more sense if it had been paralleled with the OSI model. While Figure 7.1 was supposed to have the network address portion of each IP address underlined, it did not. Figure 7-3 would have made more sense if each interface on the Internet Router had an IP address assigned. Figures 8-2 and 8-3 are confusing because the numbers 916 and 619 look like one might be a typo when discussing sequence of numbers.

Some of the discussion may be a bit advanced for the beginner but may be a bonus review for the intermediate. Sportack's Chapter 5 discussion and "This isn't stuff you'll need every day," may tip off the reader to the more advanced topics that may be helpful but not readily absorbed by the beginner. While his treatment of binary numbers, IP addressing and related topics is well done, again, at times it seems some of the subnetting discussion is too advanced. Chapter 9 seems to be redundant. Chapter 12's discussion of coaxial cable failed to point out that cable TV and network coaxial are not interchangeable (different ohm ratings).

The closing chapters would probably be the most helpful to the beginner and perhaps should have been placed at the beginning of the book. But sometimes the best is saved for last. Despite some of the challenges sited above, I'd recommend this book to the beginning TCP/IP student.

TCP/IP First-Step
(Your first step into the world of TCP/IP)
Reviewer Name: Steve Owen Scheiderer, Network Administrator
Reviewer Certification: MCSE NT 4.0, CCNA

ISBN: 1-58720-108-9

Mark A. Sportack has done a pretty good job presenting the world of TCP/IP to the beginner. Although the first part of Chapter 2 seems to rehash too much of Chapter 1, after that, the flow of most of the book more than makes up for it. He lays a good foundation from the perspective of whether timely or reliable communications is needed and what aspects of TCP/IP may be applied to the same. Good historical and practical insights are found throughout the text.

Unfortunately some of the figures in the book do not do the discussion justice. For example, Figure 3-6 and 3-8. The reader may have to slow down the pace to understand the point that is being made. His "Making Sense of the Chaos" (p. 57) discussion was well taken, but it took too long to get to the point. Figure 4-1 would have made more sense if it had been paralleled with the OSI model. While Figure 7.1 was supposed to have the network address portion of each IP address underlined, it did not. Figure 7-3 would have made more sense if each interface on the Internet Router had an IP address assigned. Figures 8-2 and 8-3 are confusing because the numbers 916 and 619 look like one might be a typo when discussing sequence of numbers.

Some of the discussion may be a bit advanced for the beginner but may be a bonus review for the intermediate. Sportack's Chapter 5 discussion and "This isn't stuff you'll need every day," may tip off the reader to the more advanced topics that may be helpful but not readily absorbed by the beginner. While his treatment of binary numbers, IP addressing and related topics is well done, again, at times it seems some of the subnetting discussion is too advanced. Chapter 9 seems to be redundant. Chapter 12's discussion of coaxial cable failed to point out that cable TV and network coaxial are not interchangeable (different ohm ratings).

The closing chapters would probably be the most helpful to the beginner and perhaps should have been placed at the beginning of the book. But sometimes the best is saved for last. Despite some of the challenges sited above, I'd recommend this book to the beginning TCP/IP student.