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Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie have open-sourced their book - Computer Networks: A Systems Approach (https://github.com/SystemsApproach/book https://github.com/

Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie have open-sourced their book - Computer Networks: A Systems Approach (https://github.com/SystemsApproach/book https://github.com/SystemsApproach/book). I am curious, what is everyone's preferred book on CN? The only one I have read is Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by Kurose and Ross. When learning CN for the first time, I like their approach of beginning with the application layer and moving towards the physical layer. Their figures are also quite intuitive.

citrin_ru 4y ago
Preferred book depend on why you are learning networks. TCP/IP Illustrated is still one of the best books about networks for software developers and SRE (though some chapters have little practical relevance today and can be skipped). But a network engineer would need a different book. As well a CS researcher.
is_true 4y ago
We used both of the books you mentioned in college and also "Computer Networks by Tanenbaum"
j_french 4y ago
Jim Kurose and his co-author made a lot of material related to their book available online during the pandemic, including video lectures and some interactive problems (https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/lectures.php https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/lectures.php). As an aside, I was briefly in contact with him about using some of his course materials in a networks class I teach and he could not have been more helpful, seems like a very nice man.
- eternalban 4y ago
  Thanks for sharing that. The top down approach is +interesting. I think software architects will benefit from this approach to networking.
calpaterson 4y ago
Tanenbaum's book was the one that clicked for me, doing self-study some years ago. Even though he has presumably retired now the book is still being updated: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Networks-Global-Andrew-Tanenbaum/dp/1292374063/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Networks-Global-Andrew-Tan...

citrin_ru 4y ago

Preferred book depend on why you are learning networks. TCP/IP Illustrated is still one of the best books about networks for software developers and SRE (though some chapters have little practical relevance today and can be skipped). But a network engineer would need a different book. As well a CS researcher.

is_true 4y ago

We used both of the books you mentioned in college and also "Computer Networks by Tanenbaum"

j_french 4y ago

Jim Kurose and his co-author made a lot of material related to their book available online during the pandemic, including video lectures and some interactive problems (https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/lectures.php https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/lectures.php). As an aside, I was briefly in contact with him about using some of his course materials in a networks class I teach and he could not have been more helpful, seems like a very nice man.

eternalban 4y ago
Thanks for sharing that. The top down approach is +interesting. I think software architects will benefit from this approach to networking.

calpaterson 4y ago

Tanenbaum's book was the one that clicked for me, doing self-study some years ago. Even though he has presumably retired now the book is still being updated: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Networks-Global-Andrew-Tanenbaum/dp/1292374063/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Networks-Global-Andrew-Tan...