Business and business processes are becoming increasingly information intensive. The marketplace is responding to this need with never-ending increases in computational ability and application software sophistication. These evolutionary changes in processors and applications impose challenging and variegated performance requirements on the networks that support them. Consequently, data communications and networking are becoming increasingly vital to the success of information users.
Networking technologies, historically, have been largely regarded as the proverbial black box. Few, if any, people really understood the mechanics of these vital technologies. As information technologies become more complex, they will require very different levels of network performance. Networks will continue to evolve in response to these technological innovations. They will continue to become faster and more feature-rich.
The key to success will be to match the features and functionalities of networks to the attributes and performance requirements of the networked processors and applications. This requires everyone, from IT executives and managers to application programmers and network administrators, to understand the abilities, limitations, and performance requirements of each piece of the IT infrastructure, and to work together to craft cohesive solutions.
High-Performance Networking Unleashed demystifies networking technologies through a step-by-step introduction to their underlying components. This provides the context for a more specific examination of how networking can satisfy the requirements of emerging information technologies and applications.
To my precious wife, Karen. Thank you for your unwavering love and support. I couldn't have done this without you.
To my son Adam, who doesn't want to write books when he gets older because it is too much work. You are wise beyond your years.
To my infant daughter Jennifer, thank you for sleeping so much. That made me feel much less guilty.
And lastly, to Louis C. Masters for introducing me to Cari Skaggs and Sams Publishing. I'll get you for this! :)
Mark Sportack
My work is dedicated to my parents, whose love, patience, and sacrifice have given me the world.
Frank C. Pappas
Things happen. People change. Life goes on. My work is dedicated to my dad, who recently demonstrated how not to give up--even when the going gets the worst.
Emil Rensing
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my boss, Portia Johnson, for her support of this effort, and to my friends and co-workers Stan Griff, Dave Kurtiak, Rex Avery, Jim Hinman, and Tom Papazian for their insight, assistance, and reference materials.
--Mark Sportack
My personal cast of characters has a number of superstars who deserve special recognition. I'd especially like to thank my parents for sticking with me through thick and thin (and everything in between); Uncle John, for setting me straight when I've needed it; Bob Samaniego, my favorite sixth grade teacher, who taught me all about the wide world of computing way back in the age of the Apple II; Jim Fry, for always giving me great advice; Professor John Morgan, for refusing to accept anything but my best; Emil "The Pterodactyl" Rensing, for his writing skill, soda runs, and spare change; and Agador Spartacus, for making me laugh.
--Frank C. Pappas
Mr. Rensing would like to acknowledge the assistance and support of Greenhouse Networks, a business unit of America Online, Inc. His contribution would not have been made possible without the additional support of Keri Rensing (his wife), John Merz (his boss), Spif (some guy), Jon Jackson (his other boss), The Notorious FCP (his editor), Eric Newman (his new and improved Yoda), Jim Hoare (his director), and Gene Fennel (his 9th grade English teacher). Additionally, he would like to thank Frank Bottiglieri (for having a cool computer back in 1992), The George Washington University (for having labs to learn in and servers to crash on, but no curriculum to keep his interest), David Hostetter (for just always being interesting), and Joe Carabillo (for giving an ungrateful, irresponsible kid a chance), whose help and encouragement kept him out of the booth.
--Emil Rensing
Mark A. Sportack is an experienced Information Technology (IT) management professional with approximately 14 years of experience in many facets of IT. His experience includes project management, forecasting and managing multi-million dollar capital budgets, expense budgets, design of internal billing systems, short-and long-range IT infrastructure planning, systems and applications design/development, directing implementation teams, and management of both technology and technical personnel. He is currently working in the Consumer Operations and Technology (CO&T) Department of the Consumer and Small Business (C&SB) unit at AT&T where he leads a group of technical professionals and is responsible for Technology Planning and Strategy.
Frank Charles Pappas sang and danced his way through his early years, though innate good sense prompted him to escape the natural--and not so natural--disasters of southern California for a new and exciting life in our nation's capital. Since then, Frank has devoted himself to working for politicians and technology firms, dodging Secret Service vehicles while playing roller hockey in front of the White House, and reading 500-year-old Spanish literature. Frank graduated with degrees in Political Science and Spanish Language and Literature from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Latin American Studies at GW's Elliott School of International Affairs. He can be reached via e-mail at fcpappas@aol.com.
Emil Rensing is a native New Yorker now living in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. He is currently employed as a Web Developer for Greenhouse Networks, the original content arm of AOL Studios and a division of America Online, Inc. As a perpetual student at The George Washington University, Emil hopes to one day never be required to set foot on campus again. He can be reached via e-mail at emil@aol.net.
Louis C. Masters is an applications/communications/systems programmer with multiple years experience in the Information Technology field. He teaches classes on applications/systems development, programming for the Internet, and client/server architecture. Louis has an M.B.A. from Rutgers University with a concentration in Information Technology and the Management of Innovation. He is currently employed at AT&T and works for the Consumer and Small Business unit, leading a team of application developers in developing networked applications.
Martin J. Bligh is a communications specialist working for Sequent Computer Systems in the United Kingdom. He has experience in planning, designing, and implementing networks, specializing in UNIX and Windows NT communications and LAN/WAN technologies. He holds a degree in Mathematics and Computing from Oxford University, England, and his research interests include distributed operating systems and the application of neural networks to playing the game of Go. He can be contacted via e-mail at mbligh@sequent.com.
Michael R. Starkenburg is the Manager of Development and Operations for Digital City, Inc., where he leads a team of engineers creating online content delivery systems and tools. Previously, he was responsible for the creation of the Internet's largest Web site, www.aol.com, and several other high-profile Web sites. He holds degrees in business from The George Washington University and Saddleback College. Mike can be reached at http://www.starkenburg.com or stark@aol.net.
Arthur B. Cooper Jr. has over 19 years of network experience. He was a military technician between 1978 and 1982. Following that, he spent five years working for Honeywell and General Electric repairing data and voice network impairments. From 1987 until early 1997, Mr. Cooper worked in network management for the U.S. Air Force. Currently, he is working for Lanier Worldwide, Inc. as a Systems Engineer. He has an AA in Computer Science, an AAS in Electronic Systems Technology, a BS in Organizational Management, and he is completing an MA in Curriculum and Instruction. He is married, has two sons, and makes his home in Colorado Springs.
Richard J. Maring is a Senior Programmer/Analyst for the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). He is currently tasked with the design and development of an enterprise scale, Web-based OLAP solution for the internal Executive Information System. He is also a freelance Microsoft Certified Trainer specializing in all 32-bit Microsoft operating systems. His extensive background includes LAN/MAN/WAN construction, capacity planning, performance tuning, database design, and system development/integration as well as extensive project management/budgeting experience. Richard has recently been acquired by Microsoft to serve in their elite Internet Infrastructure and Architecture division as the Site Architect and QA Manager for all Microsoft.com Web sites throughout the world. He can be reached via e-mail at rmaring@microsoft.com.
James F. Causey is an Intel Systems Specialist for Indiana University Computing Services. He performs high-level support, development, and administration tasks for NT-centric networks, with clients ranging from NT and 95 to DOS/Windows and MacOS. He also teaches courses on networking and the Microsoft suite of operating systems, as well doing freelance software development. Originally trained as a Military Historian, his interests include music, sports cars, history, and any other recreational task that takes him as far from computers as possible. He has occasionally been known to pine for the days when VMS was king and Commodores were cool from his home in Bloomington, Indiana. He lives with his partner, Tina, and his cat, Gabby. James can be reached via e-mail at jcausey@bluemarble.net.
Dave Welk has been working in the networking industry for over ten years with extensive telecommunications and LAN/WAN experience. Many years spent administering Novell networks allowed Dave to complete the set of seven CNE tests within an eighteen-day time period in March 1994. Today, he routinely assists in analyzing and designing networks that include thousands of computers and rooms full of servers. Dave has a bachelors degree in Management and recently completed his Master of Project Management Degree. He has been certified by just about every major manufacturer of networking products, including Bay Networks, 3COM, Fore Systems, and Network General.
Phillip T. Rawles is a professor of Telecommunications and Networking Technologies in the Department of Computer Information Systems and Technology at Purdue University. Professor Rawles teaches Network and Systems Administration, Enterprise Network Management, and Manufacturing Information Systems. His other academic interests include Network Security and Simulation.
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