From Charles M. Kozierok, the creator of the highly regarded www.pcguide.com, comes The TCP/IP Guide. This completely up-to-date, encyclopedic reference on the TCP/IP protocol suite will appeal to newcomers and the seasoned professional alike. Kozierok details the core protocols that make TCP/IP internetworks function and the most important classic TCP/IP applications, integrating IPv6 coverage throughout. Over 350 illustrations and hundreds of tables help to explain the finer points of this complex topic. The book’s personal, user-friendly writing style lets readers of all levels understand the dozens of protocols and technologies that run the Internet, with full coverage of PPP, ARP, IP, IPv6, IP NAT, IPSec, Mobile IP, ICMP, RIP, BGP, TCP, UDP, DNS, DHCP, SNMP, FTP, SMTP, NNTP, HTTP, Telnet, and much more.

The TCP/IP Guide is a must-have addition to the libraries of internetworking students, educators, networking professionals, and those working toward certification.

Table of Contents

Section I: TCP/IP Overview and Background Information

Part I-1: Networking Fundamentals

1. Networking Introduction, Characteristics, and Types  

2. Network Performance Issues and Concepts  

3. Network Standards and Standards Organizations  

4. A Review of Data Representation and the Mathematics of Computing  

Part I-2: The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model

5. General OSI Reference Model Issues and Concepts  

6. OSI Reference Model Layers  

7. OSI Reference Model Summary  

Part I-3: TCP/IP Protocol Suite and Architecture

8. Chapter 8: TCP/IP Protocol Suite and Architecture  

Section II: TCP/IP Lower-Layer Core Protocols

Part II-1: TCP/IP Network Interface Layer Protocols

9. TCP/IP Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Overview and Fundamentals  

10. PPP Core Protocols: Link Control, Network Control, and Authentication  

11. PPP Feature Protocols  

12. PPP Protocol Frame Formats  

Part II-2: TCP/IP Network Interface/Internet Layer Connection Protocols

13. Address Resolution and the TCP/IP Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)  

14. Reverse Address Resolution and the TCP/IP Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)  

Part II-3: Internet Protocol Version 4 (IP/IPv4)

15. Internet Protocol Versions, Concepts, and Overview  

16. IPv4 Addressing Concepts and Issues  

17. Classful (Conventional) Addressing  

18. IP Subnet Addressing (Subnetting) Concepts  

19. IP Subnetting: Practical Subnet Design and Address Determination Example

20. IP Classless Addressing: Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR)/Supernetting  

21. Internet Protocol Datagram Encapsulation and Formatting  

22. IP Datagram Size, Fragmentation, and Reassembly  

23. IP Routing and Multicasting  

Part II-4: Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)

24. IPv6 Overview, Changes, and Transition  

25. IPv6 Addressing  

26. IPv6 Datagram Encapsulation and Formatting  

27. IPv6 Datagram Size, Fragmentation, Reassembly, and Routing  

Part II-5: IP-Related Feature Protocols

28. IP Network Address Translation (NAT) Protocol  

29. IP Security (IPsec) Protocols  

30. Internet Protocol Mobility Support (Mobile IP)  

Part II-6: IP Support Protocols

31. ICMP Concepts and General Operation  

32. ICMPv4 Error Message Types and Formats  

33. ICMPv4 Informational Message Types and Formats  

34. ICMPv6 Error Message Types and Formats  

35. ICMPv6 Informational Message Types and Formats  

36. IPv6 Neighbor Discovery (ND) Protocol  

Part II-7: TCP/IP Routing Protocols (Gateway Protocols)

37. Overview of Key Routing Protocol Concepts  

38. Routing Information Protocol (RIP, RIP-2, and RIPng)  

39. Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)  

40. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP/BGP-4)  

41. Other Routing Protocols

Part II-8: TCP/IP Interface Transport Layer Protocols

42. Overview and Comparison of TCP and UDP  

43. TCP and UDP Addressing: Ports and Sockets  

44. TCP/IP User Datagram Protocol (UDP)  

45. TCP Overview, Functions, and Characteristics  

46. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Fundamentals and General Operation  

47. TCP Basic Operation: Connection Establishment, Management, and Termination  

48. TCP Message Formatting and Data Transfer  

49. TCP Reliability and Flow Control Features  

Section III: TCP/IP Application Layer Protocols  

Part III-1: Name Systems and TCP/IP Name Registration and Name Resolution  

50. Name System Issues, Concepts, and Techniques  

51. TCP/IP Name Systems Overview and the Host Table Name System  

52. Domain Name System (DNS) Overview, Functions, and Characteristics  

53. DNS Name Space, Architecture, and Terminology  

54. DNS Name Registration, Public Administration, Zones, and Authorities  

55. DNS Name Server Concepts and Operation  

56. DNS Resolution Concepts and Resolver Operations  

57. DNS Messaging and Message, Resource Record, and Master File Formats  

Part III-2: Network File and Resource Sharing Protocols  

58. Network File and Resource Sharing and the TCP/IP Network File System (NFS)  

Part III-3: Host Configuration and TCP/IP Host Configuration Protocols  

59. Host Configuration Concepts, Issues, and Motivation  

60. TCP/IP Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP)  

61. DHCP Overview and Address Allocation Concepts  

62. DHCP Configuration and Operation

63. DHCP Messaging, Message Types, and Formats  

64. DHCP Client/Server Implementation, Features, and IPv6 Support  

Part III-4: TCP/IP Network Management Framework and Protocols

65. TCP/IP Internet Standard Management Framework Overview  

66. TCP/IP Structure of Management Information (SMI) and Management Information Bases (MIBs)  

67. TCP/IP Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Concepts and Operation  

68. SNMP Protocol Messaging and Message Formats  

69. TCP/IP Remote Network Monitoring (RMON)  

Part III-5: TCP/IP Application Layer Addressing and Application Categories

70. TCP/IP Application Layer Addressing: Uniform Resource Identifiers, Locators, and Names (URIs, URLs, and URNs)  

71. File and Message Transfer Overview and Application Categories  

Part III-6: TCP/IP General File Transfer Protocols

72. File Transfer Protocol (FTP)  

73. Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)  

Part III-7: TCP/IP Electronic Mail System: Concept and Protocols

74. TCP/IP Electronic Mail System Overview and Concepts  

75. TCP/IP Electronic Mail Addresses and Addressing  

76. TCP/IP Electronic Mail Message Formats and Message Processing: RFC 822 and MIME  

77. TCP/IP Electronic Mail Delivery Protocol: The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)  

78. TCP/IP Electronic Mail Access and Retrieval Protocols and Methods  

Part III-8: TCP/IP World Wide Web and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

79. World Wide Web and Hypertext Overview and Concepts  

80. HTTP General Operation and Connections  

81. HTTP Messages, Methods, and Status Codes

82. HTTP Message Headers  

83. HTTP Entities, Transfers, Coding Methods, and Content Management  

84. HTTP Features, Capabilities, and Issues  

Part III-9: Other File and Message Transfer Applications

85. Usenet (Network News) and the TCP/IP Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP)  

86. Gopher Protocol (Gopher)  

Part III-10: Interactive and Administrative Utilities and Protocols

87. TCP/IP Interactive and Remote Application Protocols  

88. TCP/IP Administration and Troubleshooting Utilities and Protocols

Review

"A New TCP/IP Classic. . . Keeps things interesting and flowing well enough that working one's way through. . . Actually entertaining instead of torture."

—Slashdot

"The most comprehensive guide to TCP/IP protocols we have ever come across. It also is the most readable. This is a book that will be staying on our shelves, and we highly recommend it."

—Network World

“This is a really well-done book, and well worth the price if you need up-to-date, easy-to-digest information about TCP/IP. I wish I'd written this puppy.”

—IBM’s developerWorks

“Nicely organized, from an introduction to networking through administration and troubleshooting, the book clearly explains each topic.”

—Library Journal

"I've never seen a book on this subject before to match this one . . . It's as close to indispensable as a printed work can get."

—NetPerformance.com

"The book is well-organized, well-illustrated, and has a conversational tone that makes it easy to read and learn even for networking novices."

—Windows Networking

"It's informative and easy to read, even when discussing rather nasty protocols, and when it covers something, it generally covers it quite completely."

—;login:

"Due to size, it may seem like this book is solely for students or engineers. However, The TCP/IP Guide is great for anyone and everyone as it can act both as a reference guide and a textbook."

—Linux Security

"The author does a great job of discussing the significance of the information he is presenting . . . Whereas some books seem to throw illustrations in simply to break up the text, this book adds just the right amount in the right places to make sure you understand."

—Linux Magazine

"Covers a great breadth and depth of information . . . an excellent reference." (4.5 out of 5 stars)

—About.com

"This is both an encyclopedic and comprehensible guide to the TCP/IP protocol suite that will appeal to newcomers and the seasoned professional."

—DominoPower Magazine

“Kozierok's description of IPv4 addressing is probably the clearest I have ever read. And his chapters about IP subnetting and classless addressing are masterful. If I ever teach communication protocols again, my lecture notes will owe a great deal to this book. . . I continue to be astounded that this much information, presented in a clear and entertaining fashion, is available for so little.”

—Kickstart News

“A mind-boggling contribution to understanding and applying TCP/IP protocols to network administration. . .This is a truly impressive work. . .comprehensive and readable.”

—JavaRanch

"This is the kind of reference book that might be worth reading cover to cover in spite of its bulk."

—Open.ITWorld.com

"This book is the Real Deal. . . If you've read as many bad IT books as I have, you will appreciate the mastery of Kozierok's achievement. His warmth and style don't smack you in the face at first, but keep reading, and you'll discover an IT brother."

—WatchGuard Wire

"Now I can retire all my other TCP/IP books I have gathering dust on my bookshelves... This book however may become timeless, because it not only talks about, but shows everything."

—MacCompanion

"Smartly illustrated, the book is easily navigated for both brief overviews of the subject matter and more in-depth study of TCP/IP-related topics... A welcome change from the information congestion common on the Information Superhighway."

—About This Particular Mac (ATPM)

"Focuses on the nuts and bolts of how the protocols work while maintaining an emphasis on the present state of the art (including extensive coverage of IPv6)."

—Book News

"A must-have addition to the libraries of internetworking students, educators, networking professionals, and those working toward certification."

—Golden Triangle PC Club

"Anything and everything you ever wanted to or needed to know about the ins and outs of the TCP/IP. . . you could not find a better, more comprehensive book on the subject. I would give it two thumbs up for sure."

—Cariboo Computer Magazine

About the Author

Charles M. Kozierok is the author and publisher of The PC Guide, an extensive online reference work on personal computers, as well as several other educational websites, including The TCP/IP Guide. He holds master’s degrees from MIT in management and in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS), and worked in various technical and managerial roles before dedicating himself full-time to writing and educational pursuits. He lives in rural Vermont with his wife and three sons.