Tcp/Ip: A Survival Guide

A concise guide explains how users can troubleshoot TCP/IP problems, including a complete roadmap of TCP/IP settings and offering detailed solutions for problems under Windows 95 and Windows NT, as well as Novell Netware. Original. (Intermediate).

Derfler and Rigney are wise enough to know that those about to get their hands into the nuts and bolts of TCP/IP are not necessarily advanced techies. Sometimes they're reasonably knowledgeable system administrators who suddenly have a problem on their hands. Maybe there's something wrong with the network. Or maybe it's time to connect the company to the Internet. Or time to create an intranet.

In any case, they know you need to have a good understanding of what TCP/IP is and how to work with it. Derfler and Rigney take it from the beginning, starting with the question of "what's a protocol?" Only after providing an exceptionally clear and nontechnical explanation of protocols in general do they move into the particular set of protocols known as TCP/IP.

They then lead the reader through the challenges of TCP/IP usage and installation. They break their approach into four sections. The first is introductory, discussing such things as the basics of TCP/IP, the ABC's of intranets, things to consider before installing, and how to deal with routers. With part 2, they get into the serious how-tos as they discuss installing and configuring TCP/IP on various servers. While this discussion is heavily weighted to Windows NT use, it also features use of IntranetWare and the Novell Multiprotocol Server. Section 3 discusses installing and using TCP/IP on the client side, using Windows 95, Windows NT, and Windows for Workgroups. Part 4, though short, is invaluable, being a guide to TCP/IP troubleshooting, using third-party stacks, and TCP/IP utilities. --Elizabeth Lewis