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Summary: Invaluable Protocol Analysis and Troubleshooting Skills
Review: In the acknowledgements, Priscilla references the Group Study mailing list and several of its more prominent members. I came to appreciate her devotion to the subjects of protocol analysis and troubleshooting -- as well as sound network design -- through that very list. She didn't just sit down to crank out a book on any old topic with good sales potential. This is a passion as well as a profession for folks like Priscilla.As a "WAN guy" with limited campus/enterprise exposure, I chose to read this book in very deliberate fashion. I wanted to learn all that I could. My advice would be this for anyone who is serious about LAN protocol analysis and troubleshooting: get yourself a protocol analyzer and play along. Don't just read the capture files in the book - go out and get your own. In terms of campus technologies and protocols, I learned far more from this book than I did from any of my studies for Cisco's professional-level certifications. I have to imagine that anyone serious about the vaunted CCIE program would need to master all of the skills that Priscilla and coauthor Joseph Bardwell so skillfully coach throughout this entire book. And perhaps of far greater importance would be the real-world applicability of the skills that can be had by practicing the bottom-up troubleshooting approach espoused by these experienced authors.
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Summary: Fill in the holes of your swiss cheese knowledge base!
Review: Many books have I read where authors speak of Ethernet or TCP/IP or other subjects. This book fills in the gaps without being too vendor biased. Cisco and WildPackets are excellent companies, but the book really focuses on enhancing your network to it's fullest. I learned that just because my network "works", there may be many things ready to break that had not been troubleshot before. Now I really feel able to properly "fix" my troubles and not just make my network magically work when there is trouble behind the scenes waiting for a Friday night to break.
The two authors have been in the industry since it's inception and bring a passion for networking to the table with a focus on teaching those of us who do not have 20+ years in the trenches.
This book is not only a reference book, but a well written, easy to read explanation of networking and troubleshooting. With real-life scenarios from the authors and practical situations played out. I felt as though I had a mentor walking me through the logical steps of analysis.
Buy reference books and keep them on your selves for when you need them. Buy this book, read it and keep it close because you will need it!
Rating:
Summary: Good book for network admins
Review: My overall impression was that this is a great book. I felt that the first chapter was unnecessary detail, and sort of seemed like chest thumping to me. I find this book to be an excellent reference about just about all aspects of LAN communications. I was not impressed with the WAN protocols however. I sort of expected more of that, as you might find in a Campus network. I keep this book handy, and often find myself using it as a reference when I am unsure of a conclusion I have drawn. I recommend this book to anyone looking for reference material.
Rating:
Summary: Good book for network admins
Review: My overall impression was that this is a great book. I felt that the first chapter was unnecessary detail, and sort of seemed like chest thumping to me. I find this book to be an excellent reference about just about all aspects of LAN communications. I was not impressed with the WAN protocols however. I sort of expected more of that, as you might find in a Campus network. I keep this book handy, and often find myself using it as a reference when I am unsure of a conclusion I have drawn. I recommend this book to anyone looking for reference material.
Rating:
Summary: Practical protocol analysis advice
Review: This book contains excellent, accurate information. Many books present technical information and stop there, but this book goes further, presenting common problems with the protocols and how to recognize and troubleshoot them. The authors are both experts in the fields of protocol analysis, and their experience shows through in the practical, applicable nature of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Always a pleasure
Review: to read a well written technical book. When I was starting out in this field I was often discouraged when reading various study materials. Now that I have achieved some degree of expertise, I realize my frustration was not due to personal inadequacy, but often the result of poorly written books. Well, Priscilla Oppenheimer and partner Joe Bardwell are outstanding writers. Nowhere did I find myself scratching my head and wondering what I was missing. This is clearly an excellent book. It contains the kind of detail one needs in study and in life with real networks. Good information and good advice abound. Troubleshooting Campus Networks is a keeper, a book that will occupy a place of honor on my bookshelf - right next to Cil's other book Top Down Network Design!!!!!
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