I understand the basics of networking such as Lan and stuff. I know what many of the protocols are and how to build a client/server socket program in C. But what I really want is a very good understanding of how networks actually work. Not only from a programming aspect but also from a application aspect. I am looking for some material(preferably a book) which will give me a very good foundation to go off of. I am in the middle of wanting to be a programmer or a UNIX admin, so I really should learn and know how to apply networking fundamentals.
Does any such a concise resource exist? Would it be better going the more academic route by buying a networking book(such as those from Tanenbaum or Kurose), or is it better to go the It route possibly looking into network admin text or certification books.
Thank you all so much.
The late Richard Stevens’ book is a masterpiece — much more practical and immediately applicable than Tanenbaum’s (haven’t studied Kurose). Btw, by the same author, I just as warmly recommend the books in the “TCP/IP Illustrated” series, and Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment — few books are more crucial to the wanna-be “programmer or Unix admin”, save perhaps ESR’s!