Network Topology Optimization: The Art and Science of Network Design

The author stresses the importance of network topology. It is the soul of the network. A statement of work (SOW) for the design of any large network must define the network topology first. Hardware is not important at early stages of design. The book then compares several topologies for performance and cost. The best topology forms the basis of a SOW. The book also presents a network design tool that synthesizes an optimum network in an iterative manner. The tool runs on a MAC or a PC.

Roshan L. Sharma was born in Punjab, India in 1927. The author received his B. A. (Physics and Math) with a minor in English literature from Punjab University in 1948. In literature his interests were in romantic poetry and Victorian novels of Galsworthy.  He came over to the United States in 1949 for graduate studies. He studied fine art and physics at UCLA for 4 years, and physics at USC for 2 years obtaining MS from the latter in 1955. In 1952, he joined Collins Radio Company as a research physicist in Burbank, California. He wrote his first book, "Holy Men and Holy Cows : Adventures of an Americanized Hindu" to answer the query from his company president about author's innermost beliefs. He wrote his next three books dealing with network science - a field he has devoted his entire professional life. In 2009, he wrote his fifth book, "Saving Immigrant's Daughter" based on 1000 letters his father-in-law left with his daughter.