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Book includes authoritative coverage of exam topics. First CD includes an exam-preparation program, and the second CD includes live expert MCSE video instruction with hands-on exercises.
TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Essentially, it is a set of two communication protocols that an application can a use to package its information for sending across a network or networks. For readers familiar with traditional NetWare protocols, TCP is roughly comparable to SPX (Sequenced Packet Exchange), and IP approximates IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange).
TCP/IP also refers to an entire collection of protocols, called a protocol suite. This collection includes application protocols for performing tasks such as e-mail, file transfers, and terminal emulation. Additional supporting protocols take an application's data and package it for transmission. Two examples of this sort would be the TCP and IP protocols. Still others exist for the physical transmission of data, such as Ethernet and Token Ring. All of these are related and part of the TCP/IP protocol suite.
As another example, whether we realize it or not, many of us use the SMTP-Simple Mail Transport Protocol. SMTP is an application protocol that enables us to communicate by e-mail. E-mail programs running on personal computers, minicomputers, UNIX workstations, and even mainframes can use the SMTP protocol to exchange e-mail between applications.
A Brief History of TCP/IP
The period of computer history spanning the 1950s and 1960s was not a good time for networking. During this Dark Age of Computerdom, almost all computer systems were "technocentric," operating autonomously-they weren't designed to connect to other systems. In that politically incorrect period of computer prejudice, hardware, operating systems, file formats, program interfaces, and other components were all designed to work only with a particular type of computer system, excluding all others.
The Interest in Packet-Switched WANs
In the late 1960s, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) became interested in some academic research concerning a packet-switched wide-area network, or WAN. The basic idea was to connect multiple, geographically dispersed networks, and allow for data, in the form of packets, to be sent to the various locations within the WAN.
The concept of packets can be explained like this: Imagine you have a really long letter to send-so long, it's impossible to fit it into one measly little #10 envelope. You've been given explicit instructions-you must use the #10s. So, you begin to break up the letter into smaller sections, fitting each into an individual envelope. As you address each envelope, you number them sequentially so the recipient at its destination can successfully reassemble your letter. The letter we're talking about is analogous to data that a user has created within an application and wishes to send to another user. The envelopes represent packets. In WANs, information is transported by electronically putting it into packets, which are addressed, sequenced, and then sent on their way.
The switched part of a packet-switched network refers to the routing of the packets to a destination. Because packets are addressed individually, they can be transmitted along different physical routes to their ultimate destination. This flexible transmission method is referred to as packet-switching. The original reason the DOD was interested in this research was because they wanted to create a fault-tolerant WAN that could carry, command, and control information in the event of a nuclear war. Because a network of this type would have multiple, geographically dispersed sites, and data would be sent in a packet-switched manner, there would be no single point of failure in the system.
The Initial Research Issues behind the Internet
The research arm of the DOD was an agency called the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), now called the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The mission of this group was to fund basic research that could possibly contribute to the defense effort. It was this agency that funded and managed the project to create a packet-switched WAN. The scientists and engineers that were recruited for this project came from major universities and the private firm of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman (BBN) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The challenge they faced related to two main areas: interconnectivity and interoperahility.
Interconnectivity deals with transporting information. A software protocol was needed that could package and route information between multiple sites. Out of the concept of the packet-switched WAN evolved the protocol that eventually rose to meet this need: the Internet Protocol (IP).
With the problem of transmission resolved, the team moved on to tackle the next issue-communication. What good was transporting information from an application on a computer here if the system's applications on the receiving end there couldn't understand it? This would be about as effective as arguing with Bavarian airport staff about your shredded luggage in Swahiliyou'd be hearing each other loud and clear, but failing to communicate because you spoke different languages. As you're sure to be guessing, interoperability has to do with application-to-application communication-the interpreter rushed to the scene. Achieving interoperability was a real challenge...
Posted May 3, 2000
I really liked the book, is simple and has all the material you need to pass the test. BUT!!! You have to practice. To pass any of the Microsoft tests you have to have the software and DO THE PRACTICES. I, personally, like taking the course (when I have the money) and then studying with one of these books. I have tried the Microsoft Press books, they are good, but they are very expensive. Take my word if you are serious, buy a Sybex book, buy the software, have at least 2 computers and do the labs, I assure you this is enough to pass. I have already done it more than once and I have passed all my tests and obtained my Microsoft Certified Professional certification. GOOD LUCK!!!Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted May 10, 2000
While this book covers all aspects of TCP/IP for NT 4.0, it doesn't contain all the advanced info about the different components in tcp\ip that you need to know to pass the cert test. Good for the beginner that doesn't know much of anything about tcp\ip. I recommend the book, but know that you will need additional information to pass the tcp\ip MS Cert test.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.