working. The characterization of LANs is discussed through various topologies (the phys-
ical connections of the network), commonly used communication media, accessing tech-
niques (contention and token passing), and many other design and implementation issues.
A qualitative comparison between different types of OSI-based and non-OSI-based
LANs is also provided to gain an understanding about these LANs, and is very useful in
selecting a LAN with the appropriate standards and protocols for a particular application.
It presents a detailed discussion of the recommendations of the IEEE 802 committee in
defining different types of standard LANs. Further, a detailed implementation of each of
these LANs will give readers insight into LANs with a view to compare them. The IEEE
802 committee’s standard metropolitan area network (MAN) and a new concept in local
area networking based on wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11) is discussed at the end of Chapter 8.
There are certain LANs which do not follow OSI standards, but are very popular.
These non-OSI-based LANs are also discussed in detail in Chapter 9 to gain an under-
standing of the layering approach concept, which helps in implementing various aspects
of networking. Further, data communications between the OSI-based and non-OSI-based
LANs, and various internetworking devices with their applications in network intercon-
nectivity in different types of networks, e.g., public networks, LANs, WANs, and different
high-speed networks, are also discussed. Also presented are standard architectures, var-
ious standards, wireless spectrum allocation, and digital cordless standards.
After a detailed discussion of LANs in general, we next discuss each layer of OSI-RM
LAN (Chapters 10–16) in detail in Part IV. Each chapter in this part is devoted to each
layer of this model and provides a detailed description of the standards and protocols for
data communication. For each of the chapters in this part, we look at the organization of
the various sections by considering the following OSI specifications:
•Services and functions
•Design and implementation issues
•Standards and protocols
•Primitives and parameters of protocols
The first three chapters (10–12) present various design and implementation issues
between subnet and host machines. The remaining chapters (13–16) present various design
and implementation issues for data communications between host-to-host connections
provided by a subnet and an understanding of LAN and WAN interconnectivity.
A detailed discussion of TCP/IP, internetworking interfaces and protocols, value-
added networks, and internetworked LAN protocols for some of the private LANs is
presented in Chapters 12, 13, and 17. A detailed discussion of security, public key cryp-
tography, and secure socket layer protocol is presented in Chapter 15.
The detailed discussion of these concepts in Chapters 10–16, along with design im-
plementation issues and limitations, makes this a useful and practical reference book for
the professional in the networking and data processing industries. The last chapter in this
part, Chapter 17, gives an overview of various applications of the Internet, the evolution
of the Internet, various connections, Internet service providers, vendors, and other related
implementation information.
In Part V, Chapter 18 discusses the evolution of integrated digital networks, integrated
services digital networks (ISDN), functions, services, the architecture of ISDN, various
standards, different data rates, protocols, their applications such as videoconferencing,
teletext, telefax, and facsimile. A detailed discussion of the need for broadband services
provides an understanding of the various technologies evolving for high-speed network-
ing and LAN/WAN interconnectivity.
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