Ethernet is a core networking technology used by every high tech business. While the basic protocols have changed little, new options such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet have increased the complexity of the topic. Ethernet has been the flavor of choice for networking administrators since the early 1980s because of its ease of use and scalability. Written by one of the foremost experts on Ethernet standards and configuration, Charles E. Spurgeon, Ethernet: The Definitive Guide includes everything you need to know to set up and maintain an Ethernet network. Ethernet: The Definitive Guide teaches you everything you need to know about the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard and its protocols. The book is logically separated into five parts:

• Introduction to Ethernet provides a tour of basic Ethernet theory and operation, including a description of Ethernet frames, operation of the Media Access Control (MAC) protocol, full-duplex mode and auto-negotiation.

• Ethernet Media Systems is the heart of the book. This sectionof Ethernet: The Definitive Guide shows you how to build media-specific Ethernet networks, from a basic 10BASE-T Ethernet offering 10 Mbps over twisted-pair cables, to an advanced 1000BASE-X Gigabit Ethernet, providing up to 1 Gbps of data transfer over fiber optic cables.

• Building Your Ethernet System teaches you how to build twisted-pair and fiber optic media segments, as well as how to build your Ethernet using repeaters and hubs.

• Performance and Troubleshooting is divided into two chapters. The first describes both the performance of a given Ethernet channel, as well as the performance of the entire network system. The second includes a tutorial on troubleshooting techniques and describes the kinds of problems network administrators are likely to encounter.

The last part of the book includes a complete glossary of terms used throughout the book, a resource list, descriptions of thick and thin coax-based Ethernet systems, a guide to AUI equipment installation and configuration, and a listing of troubleshooting numbers. This book is the definitive guide for anyone wanting to build a scalable local area network (LAN) using Ethernet.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 21 Ratings

Good to supplement your reading of 802.3 - 2006-01-17
Reviewer Rating:
First I read the standard, which destroyed my brain temporarily. Then I read this book. Then I went back to the 802.3, but with a much greater comfort. Here's the deal: the book is practical, for example, it tells you what's used and what's not. The standard legislates everything, but in reality a good part of it you don't need. Out of XXBaseT protocols you need only 10/100/1000Base-T/X. You wouldn't know this w/o the book. That's just one example. In general, this book simplifies matters, clarifies, puts everything in a realistic perspective: I've found it an easy, reasonably quick, and very helpful read.

Now, if I were to nitpick, I'd mention an intermittent conceptual muddle-headedness the author suffers from: for example, on page 23, he defines the notion of "half-duplex" as follows: "Half-duplex simply means that only one computer can send data over the Ethernet channel at any give time". This is incorrect. Half-duplex is a mode of communications where data can flow in only one direction at a time. How many computers take part is irrelevant to the definition. Now, the original Ethernet happens to be run over a shared medium, and it is _this_ fact that _necessitates_, as a ramification, the use of half-duplex over it, and, in turn, that only one station can talk at a time. A definition is different from a corollary, this is obviously unknown to the author. There are a couple of typos (nothing much, really, "bag full" instead of "bagful", this kind of stuff, nothing proofreading or an editorial intervention would not solve.)

Overall the book's very useful, recommended.

At the same time, do not believe it _alone_ is sufficient: at some point, you'll have to visit the IEEE site and download 802.3 itself (and the LLC perhaps; and MAC bridging too, most likely) -- all in all about 1500-2000 pages. That'll make your brain hurt, but the book will help quite a bit.

Btw, the standard isn't badly written: it's very clear, amazingly so at times; the difficulty is in its being detailed and precise; it's lawyerly reading, really. Not easy. Get the standard first, read it, don't try to memorize or even understand everything, just make one pass over it. Take a few days off to recover, then read this book. Then go back to the standard: it'll become much more meaningful now, smoother. That's what I did, and I think it's a good way to learn Ethernet.

A couple of points about other reviews here: the ones that say the book is not practical, are correct in a sense: it's not a net admin's installation manual (take this, plug it here, close the box, buy Cisco box ABC, type this into console, etc.) It's higher-level, it's an overview, it's fundamentals. I think it is so by design and don't consider it a flaw. If you need to configure a Cisco box, get a Cisco book; this book won't help you much with any vendor specifics.

Another reviewer whines about the lack of ARP coverage; this one is speaking out of ignorance: ARP is an IP, not Ethernet artefact (and so is reading analyzer traces). ARP is used to get IP addresses, who are, by definition above anything 802.3 covers. (Btw, ARP does get mentioned, though not in any degree of depth). One needs to understand the OSI layering to know what belongs where and not confuse things. Any book on the IP protocol stack will cover ARP; this one doesn't need to, it's outside of its scope.

Once again, a good book.

Definitly the Definitive Guide - 2003-08-20
Reviewer Rating:
This book covers a wide range of ethernet issues including fiber optics, 1000BASE-X, hubs, switches and trouble Shooting. This is an excellent reference. The glossary was better than average. Ethernet the Definitve Guide covers everything most people will ever want to know ethernet networking.

The definitive guide - without a doubt - 2003-08-20
Reviewer Rating:
This book covers everything most people will ever want to know about Ethernet. Protocols, Ethernet Media, system Configuration, hubs, switches and troubleshooting. Signal encoding "The 5-4-3 Rule" even fiber optics. It's all here. In one book. Read the glossary first if your new to networking. This is a must have reference for anyone dealing with Ethernet issues.

Still great after all these years - 2008-08-15
Reviewer Rating:
This is an excellent reference book for Ethernet networking. Read the whole thing and you will know more than most network administrators about network hardware, network topologies, and pros and cons of various alternative ways of building a network top to bottom (at least up to the point where it joins your computer). Incidentally, the book's introduction and first chapter also do a really good job of explaining why Ethernet works so well (having defeated all other would-be networking standards such as token ring).

From time to time I check to see if it's been updated. I'm always slightly disappointed that it hasn't, but then I realize it doesn't need an update just yet because Ethernet technology is mature now and the changes are incremental. But rest assured that when O-Reilly updates it, I will buy it again because this is one of those books that I have to have handy.

Splendid! - 2006-08-02
Reviewer Rating:
The book goes into perfect detail as to why Ethernet based networks do this and that while delivering everything our computers request. The illustrations are perfectly clear. It is one I reccomend above all others.

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