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For me Computer Networking: A Top Down Approach (CNTDA) by Kurose is still the best textbook out there to learn modern networking: https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/ku

For me Computer Networking: A Top Down Approach (CNTDA) by Kurose is still the best textbook out there to learn modern networking: https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/index.php https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/index.php Starting with the 6th edition, it has separated control and forwarding planes for the network layer to reflect the increasing popularity of software-defined networking (SDN) i.e. evolution of hardware centric to software centric networking. The fact that even before 6th edition when the chapter on networking is still monolithic (combined chapter on control and forwarding), it has already mentioned about the separation concerns between the control and forwarding planes while other popular textbooks still not highlighting this important matter. In addition, unlike many textbooks you can download all the supporting materials slides, exercises, animation, etc, of the from the authors' public website and Prof. Kurose video lectures are also available in Youtube. My main wish lists for the next edition (9th) hopefully include Smart-NIC for modern approach to in-network computation and also the newly standardized segment routing for network layer QoS. If there's The Nobel Prize in Literature for textbook authors, the authors of this book should be more than deserving.

diego_sandoval 3y ago
I read the 7th edition and I agree with you. It's a great book. My wish would be for the section/mention of NAT to be expanded on and discuss NAT traversal mechanisms.
arwineap 3y ago
The licensing of this book is not something I've ever seen before... I'm unable to buy it ?
- the_only_law 3y ago
  $699 for a paperback copy. God I love textbooks.
  - lannisterstark 3y ago
    Libgen exists purely for this reason. $50? Sure. $100? Eh sure why not? $700? lol.
  - arwineap 3y ago
    Wow, I couldn't even find the price, I guess I'm probably better off for it :)
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
NukedOne 3y ago
Just skimmed through the Table of Contents. There doesn't seem to be even a word on the physical layer.
- ericpauley 3y ago
  Sounds like OP (as with many reading Top-Down) don’t really care about physical layer.
  - teleforce 3y ago
    Such a hasty generalization. It's not that we don't care about PHY, but expecting in depth PHY treatment in modern networking book is like expecting semiconductor physics in the The Art of Electronics book [1]. Personally PHY is my passion and trying to propose a new reliable PHY waveform to 5G and upcoming 6G standards. Modern PHY is like bit twiddling in programming, 99% programmer don't do it and don't care unless you are doing HPC or device driver. In networking those who're doing PHY belong to communication engineering field. For modern networking the relevant PHY mostly dealing with digital I/Q signal for wired/wireless and there are many excellent books on the subject such as this [2]. [1]The Art of Electronics (2015): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38748370 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38748370 [2] Digital Signal Processing in Modern Communication Systems https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Signal-Processing-Communication-Systems/dp/0988873508 https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Signal-Processing-Communicati...
- pests 3y ago
  Did you read the description? > "with an early emphasis on application-layer paradigms and application programming interfaces"
  - NukedOne 3y ago
    No. Why would I? I was merely commenting on the "best textbook out there to learn modern networking."
    - 3y ago
zethsg 3y ago
I agree completely, CNTDA is a great book and Jim Kurose, the author does a superb job covering some of the chapter contents in his youtube series (Ch1 to 6.x) from then on, another channel continues each chapter video Lectures by Jim Kurose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74sEFYBBRAY&list=PL1ya5dD_M8uX-BLUF1FEvUNsYWQL5_l0O https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74sEFYBBRAY&list=PL1ya5dD_M8... Lectures by Epic Networks Lab: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBzqX08GPo8&list=PLo80JwUm6hSSwGLJmS_quaeJgx9SILLiI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBzqX08GPo8&list=PLo80JwUm6h...

diego_sandoval 3y ago

I read the 7th edition and I agree with you. It's a great book. My wish would be for the section/mention of NAT to be expanded on and discuss NAT traversal mechanisms.

arwineap 3y ago

The licensing of this book is not something I've ever seen before... I'm unable to buy it ?

the_only_law 3y ago
$699 for a paperback copy. God I love textbooks.
- lannisterstark 3y ago
  Libgen exists purely for this reason. $50? Sure. $100? Eh sure why not? $700? lol.
- arwineap 3y ago
  Wow, I couldn't even find the price, I guess I'm probably better off for it :)

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

NukedOne 3y ago

Just skimmed through the Table of Contents. There doesn't seem to be even a word on the physical layer.

ericpauley 3y ago
Sounds like OP (as with many reading Top-Down) don’t really care about physical layer.
- teleforce 3y ago
  Such a hasty generalization. It's not that we don't care about PHY, but expecting in depth PHY treatment in modern networking book is like expecting semiconductor physics in the The Art of Electronics book [1]. Personally PHY is my passion and trying to propose a new reliable PHY waveform to 5G and upcoming 6G standards. Modern PHY is like bit twiddling in programming, 99% programmer don't do it and don't care unless you are doing HPC or device driver. In networking those who're doing PHY belong to communication engineering field. For modern networking the relevant PHY mostly dealing with digital I/Q signal for wired/wireless and there are many excellent books on the subject such as this [2]. [1]The Art of Electronics (2015): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38748370 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38748370 [2] Digital Signal Processing in Modern Communication Systems https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Signal-Processing-Communication-Systems/dp/0988873508 https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Signal-Processing-Communicati...
pests 3y ago
Did you read the description? > "with an early emphasis on application-layer paradigms and application programming interfaces"
- NukedOne 3y ago
  No. Why would I? I was merely commenting on the "best textbook out there to learn modern networking."
  - 3y ago

zethsg 3y ago

I agree completely, CNTDA is a great book and Jim Kurose, the author does a superb job covering some of the chapter contents in his youtube series (Ch1 to 6.x) from then on, another channel continues each chapter video Lectures by Jim Kurose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74sEFYBBRAY&list=PL1ya5dD_M8uX-BLUF1FEvUNsYWQL5_l0O https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74sEFYBBRAY&list=PL1ya5dD_M8... Lectures by Epic Networks Lab: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBzqX08GPo8&list=PLo80JwUm6hSSwGLJmS_quaeJgx9SILLiI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBzqX08GPo8&list=PLo80JwUm6h...