BKETCNGD.RVW   960209
 
"The Ethernet Configuration Guide", Spurgeon, 1996, 1-57398-012-9
%A   Charles Spurgeon
%C   P.O. Box 640218, San Jose, CA 95164-0218
%D   1996
%G   1-57398-012-9
%I   Peer-to-Peer Communications, Inc.
%O   800-420-2677 408-435-2677 fax: 408-435-0895 cmacintosh@peer-to-peer.com
%P   178
%T   "The Ethernet Configuration Guide"
 
A local area network is a more complicated beast than a personal computer.  But
there is no reason for a LAN to be a deep and mysterious secret, guarded by
systems integrators who charge a hundred percent markup on every piece of
hardware *plus* ninety-dollars-an-hour-with-a-two-hour-callout every time they
decide you need a new network interface card.  With a little background and
some study any reasonably intelligent person can design, build and maintain
their own network; particularly the five-to-twelve station systems needed by
most small businesses.
 
There are lots of books on how to build a network.  (You have to be careful: a
large number of them only know one network operating system.  But you can get
some guidance.)  The trouble comes when they start talking about wiring, which,
for most systems, is still what holds the network together.  (And mostly by
Ethernet.)  You tend to get such vital information as "twisted pair has two
wires twisted around each other, coaxial cable has a wire down the middle and
fibre optic cable uses light.  We're not sure how.  Now go call a contractor." 
The result is a number of networks which have been patched together without
regard to the physical limitations of the cable.  Almost all of them work, but
not as well as they could.  (The systems integrators generally read the same
books you did, they just had more gall.)
 
Enter Spurgeon.  He has taken the official rules and specifications (IEEE
802.3, for those who care) and extracted the practical and pragmatic guidelines
necessary for basic (and some more than basic) networks.  There is a tutorial
on Ethernet, details of the various 10 Mbps (Mega-bit-per-second) types of
cabling media, 100 Mbps, segment configuration guidelines and calculations,
hubs, cable specifications and some examples.  The important early chapters are
clearly written and lucid enough for the determined layman.  (Later chapters
become more complex, particularly in dealing with trip delay calculations. 
Taken slowly, though, they should be workable for anyone.)
 
For those planning their own network, this is one essential and practical part. 
For those still trying to look like systems integrators, this should reduce
your Mallox dependency.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996   BKETCNGD.RVW   960209

==============
Vancouver      ROBERTS@decus.ca         | "Don't buy a
Institute for  rslade@vanisl.decus.ca   |     computer."
Research into  Rob.Slade@f733.n153.z1/  | Jeff Richards'
User                      .fidonet.org  | First Law of
Security       Canada V7K 2G6           | Data Security