If you've ever wondered how Linux carries out the complicated tasks assigned to it by the IP protocols -- or if you just want to learn about modern networking through real-life examples -- Understanding Linux Network Internals is for you.

Like the popular O'Reilly book, Understanding the Linux Kernel, this book clearly explains the underlying concepts and teaches you how to follow the actual C code that implements it. Although some background in the TCP/IP protocols is helpful, you can learn a great deal from this text about the protocols themselves and their uses. And if you already have a base knowledge of C, you can use the book's code walkthroughs to figure out exactly what this sophisticated part of the Linux kernel is doing.

Part of the difficulty in understanding networks -- and implementing them -- is that the tasks are broken up and performed at many different times by different pieces of code. One of the strengths of this book is to integrate the pieces and reveal the relationships between far-flung functions and data structures. Understanding Linux Network Internals is both a big-picture discussion and a no-nonsense guide to the details of Linux networking. Topics include:

• Key problems with networking

• Network interface card (NIC) device drivers

• System initialization

• Layer 2 (link-layer) tasks and implementation

• Layer 3 (IPv4) tasks and implementation

• Neighbor infrastructure and protocols (ARP)

• Bridging

• Routing

• ICMP

Author Christian Benvenuti, an operating system designer specializing in networking, explains much more than how Linux code works. He shows the purposes of major networking features and the trade-offs involved in choosing one solution over another. A large number of flowcharts and other diagrams enhance the book's understandability.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

Excellent Book For Those Who want to know How Linux Network Stack Works - 2009-04-07
Reviewer Rating:
If you already have knowledge about how computer networks work in general & want to know how those networking concepts are actually designed & implemented in an operating system, this book is a must. This Book is a smooth read & goes step by step.

First it tells you how a NIC registers itself with the kernel. Then it describes an high-level introduction of how device drivers drive the device. Then it describes the interface between the kernel and the device drivers. It also discusses bridging & routing concepts.

If you want to delve into the linux networking code of the kernel or if you are actually looking to modify a part of the networking code, this book is a must read.

Outstanding coverage of the core networking code - 2009-08-12
Reviewer Rating:
An unbelievable job covering the core networking code. If the author of this book had a follow-on volume including things left out due to space constraints, I would buy it in a heart-beat. This things easily saves months of time reading code (though face it, that's necessary too).

Very nice and cheap item - 2009-02-14
Reviewer Rating:
the item is just as the description of the seller, and it's a good transaction

Excellent, in depth review of Linux Networking - 2009-01-07
Reviewer Rating:
The book was exactly what I was looking for - a practical, in-depth explanation and review of the various software components that make up the Linux kernel's network stack.

Broad coverage - 2008-07-22
Reviewer Rating:
This is a wonderful book to understanding how the linux networking code works. Good coverage of networking code for a beginner-developer to grasp.

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Networking > Linux
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