Data Communications and Networking (McGraw-Hill Forouzan Networking)

Data Communications and Networking, 3/e provides a comprehensive and current introduction to networking technologies. The book is accessible to students from all backgrounds and uses hundreds of figures to visually represent concepts.

The new edition has been completely updated to reflect the constantly changing world of network technologies. Enhanced coverage of bluetooth, wireless, satellites, as well as four new chapters on security have been added. The book has also improved its coverage of high speed access to the internet with more on DSL, Cable TV, and SONET.

The third edition has transitioned from using the 7-layer OSI model to the 5-layer Internet Model. More time is spent on TCP/IP in the new organization.

Forouzan's book continues to be supported by an On-line Learning Center (OLC) that contains many extra resources for students and instructors. Some of the features include PowerPoints, solutions, self-quizzing, and Flash animations that illustrate concepts.

Customer Reviews:

No regrets

By swingreen "swingreen" - January 27, 2004

I'll make two separate sets of comments - one for professors and one for students.Students first... Forouzan is about as easy to read as any book on the subject. Since Forouzan has done a pretty good job of keeping the text up-to-date, however, you may find it difficult to use a previous edition of the text. I would estimate that about 20% of the material is either new or revised in the 3rd edition. The website also has some pretty good student resources, such as notes and related study tools.For professors... I have been using the text since its first edition and have no regrets. In the third edition, Forouzan departs from the 7-layered OSI model to something he calls the 5-layered Internet model (Application, Transport, Network, DL, Physical), which may not be "standard", but it certainly makes things a little easier when talking about the Internet and modern computer networks. There seems to be enough quantitative material to satisfy those who wish to take a... read more

Excellent entry level text

By Dave Bremer - June 18, 2003

I teach a second year under-graduate (degree) course in Data Communications and Networking. This is the first networking paper that students will take. I have used Shay, Stallings and Tanenbaum in the past but have changed to Forouzan because I believe that it does an excellent job of introducing concepts at a level that is readily understood by a novice. Student feedback confirms that it is about the right level and that they feel they actually understand the text - quite a bonus ;-)Another review recommends the above authors - and I agree they give an excellent treatment of the topic - but they require an advanced student. I would select Stallings or Tanenbaum for a paper that follows the introductory paper (we actually use Comer for the advanced paper which is specifically TCP/IP)Forouzan's "Data Comms and Networking" is clear, plainly written - yet gives a good depth to the topics being considered. The diagrams and practice questions are excellent.I highly... read more

Comprehensive Text

By A Customer - October 10, 2000

This book gives full coverage of all of the basics of data communications including signals, modulation, transmission media, and ECC. It has a comprehensive coverage of OSI and networking protocols with illustrative details of packet and frame contents with emphasis on the first four layers. There is coverage of most important networking technologies including TCP/IP, ATM, ISDN, frame relay and SONET. The many illustrations are appreciated. The book is well written and easy to follow and has excellent breadth of coverage but it does not develop theoretical aspects or mathematics in areas such as modulation or traffic modeling. I am considering adopting this text for a second-year computer science course.