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Campus networking strategies
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A
Campus Networking Strategies Caroline Arms (ed) Digital Press, USA (1988) £28, ISBN 1-55558-009-2, 321 pp This is the second in this publisher's 'EDUCOM Strategies Series on Information Technology', the first
(Campus
Computing Strategies)
having been published in 1983. EDUCOM is a non-profitmaking consortium of higher education institutions in the USA, whose goal in producing this series is to help institutions to plan in different areas of IT. This second book, originated by EDUCOM'S Networking and Telecommunications Task Force, is certainly successful in meeting this goal. The bulk of the book comprises ten case studies, in each of which a higher education institution describes its campus networking strategy in terms of the present form of its network, how' it developed to that stage, and how it intends to develop its network in the future. The format consists of a foreword and general introduction, with the case studies ordered in increasing institution size, followed by three relevant technical overviews on protocols and standards, campus wiring, and national (US) networks. Finally, a glossary and bibliography are provided. The last three chapters are particularly useful for the reader new to networking, who is advised to read them before tackling the case studies. There is also an index, not always provided in a book of this kind. The information presented is of most direct interest to those in higher education, but very usefully relates a good range of experience in setting up networks that will help almost any organization considering the way forward in its own LAN strategy. Some of this experience has been gained at
I
the expense of making wrong, and inevitably expensive, decisions. A clear and comforting message is given in the Stanford chapter for those at present delaying their own networking developments: 'The sooner you start, the longer it takes'. Most of the case study details are concerned with technology and infrastructure. By contrast, there is relatively little on the usage of the various campus networks, except in looking at future developments. A useful concluding chapter might have been a technical and strategic comparison between the ten reporting institutions: as it is, this task is left to the reader. The institutions range in size from Wesleyan University with 3 100 students and a compact (120 acre) campus, through the middling-sized
Books received Telecommunication network-based services: policy impfications Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development, France (1989) 278pp, $22, ISBN 92-64-113205-8 Telecommunication regulatory patterns have a major impact on the structure of supply, and on both the range and prices of telecommunication services for different users. This report aims to provide a detailed analysis of the policy framework in which Telecommunication Networkbased Service (TNS) markets are developing in the different OECD countries (TNSs are services that combine information production, manipulation, storage and/or
he editors are pleased to receive details of books for review, review copies of books, and book reviews for publication. Suggestions should be sent to The Editor, Computer Communications, PO Box 63, Westbury House, Bury Street, Guildford GU2 5BH, UK
298
J
MIT and Stanford with 9 500 and 12 000 students respectively, to Pennsylvania State University's 67000 students spread over 22 separate campuses. The ten institutions were selected because they were forging new ground in campus networking. They also happen to represent widely different technical challenges. Despite the differences in their size and outlook, there is much common ground in the technology chosen: no doubt this too is comforting news for the reader. Common technology includes star topology using twisted pair wiring within buildings, token ring or Ethernet LAN hubs, TCP/IP communications protocols, and fibre optic trunks between buildings. In some cases the chapters indicate the considerable expenditure involved: e.g. Carnegie Mellon (one of the smaller institutions at 6 500 students) has invested $3.5 M in wiring alone. The book is attractively presented and, for network planners and managers, is well worth the price.
David Hutchison University of Lancaster, UK distribution with the use of telecommunication facilities and software functions). The book gives an overview of the changing industry, looks at policy issues, debates and options, and examines controversies such as the diversity of telecommunications services, and the implications of technological development. Well over half of the book is taken up with annexes containing questionnaire data and OECD member country policies.
Business data communications (2nd edn) D A Stamper, Benjamin/ Cummings, USA (1989) 556pp, £17.95, ISBN 0-8053-0302-2 This expanded and updated edition continues to aim to provide a balance between the technical aspects of data communications and related managerial issues. It retains the same organization, with the chapters arranged to follow the seven layers of OSI from the bottom up, and is still largely directed at students on computer systems courses.
computer communications
A
Campus Networking Strategies Caroline Arms (ed) Digital Press, USA (1988) £28, ISBN 1-55558-009-2, 321 pp This is the second in this publisher's 'EDUCOM Strategies Series on Information Technology', the first
(Campus
Computing Strategies)
having been published in 1983. EDUCOM is a non-profitmaking consortium of higher education institutions in the USA, whose goal in producing this series is to help institutions to plan in different areas of IT. This second book, originated by EDUCOM'S Networking and Telecommunications Task Force, is certainly successful in meeting this goal. The bulk of the book comprises ten case studies, in each of which a higher education institution describes its campus networking strategy in terms of the present form of its network, how' it developed to that stage, and how it intends to develop its network in the future. The format consists of a foreword and general introduction, with the case studies ordered in increasing institution size, followed by three relevant technical overviews on protocols and standards, campus wiring, and national (US) networks. Finally, a glossary and bibliography are provided. The last three chapters are particularly useful for the reader new to networking, who is advised to read them before tackling the case studies. There is also an index, not always provided in a book of this kind. The information presented is of most direct interest to those in higher education, but very usefully relates a good range of experience in setting up networks that will help almost any organization considering the way forward in its own LAN strategy. Some of this experience has been gained at
I
the expense of making wrong, and inevitably expensive, decisions. A clear and comforting message is given in the Stanford chapter for those at present delaying their own networking developments: 'The sooner you start, the longer it takes'. Most of the case study details are concerned with technology and infrastructure. By contrast, there is relatively little on the usage of the various campus networks, except in looking at future developments. A useful concluding chapter might have been a technical and strategic comparison between the ten reporting institutions: as it is, this task is left to the reader. The institutions range in size from Wesleyan University with 3 100 students and a compact (120 acre) campus, through the middling-sized
Books received Telecommunication network-based services: policy impfications Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development, France (1989) 278pp, $22, ISBN 92-64-113205-8 Telecommunication regulatory patterns have a major impact on the structure of supply, and on both the range and prices of telecommunication services for different users. This report aims to provide a detailed analysis of the policy framework in which Telecommunication Networkbased Service (TNS) markets are developing in the different OECD countries (TNSs are services that combine information production, manipulation, storage and/or
he editors are pleased to receive details of books for review, review copies of books, and book reviews for publication. Suggestions should be sent to The Editor, Computer Communications, PO Box 63, Westbury House, Bury Street, Guildford GU2 5BH, UK
298
J
MIT and Stanford with 9 500 and 12 000 students respectively, to Pennsylvania State University's 67000 students spread over 22 separate campuses. The ten institutions were selected because they were forging new ground in campus networking. They also happen to represent widely different technical challenges. Despite the differences in their size and outlook, there is much common ground in the technology chosen: no doubt this too is comforting news for the reader. Common technology includes star topology using twisted pair wiring within buildings, token ring or Ethernet LAN hubs, TCP/IP communications protocols, and fibre optic trunks between buildings. In some cases the chapters indicate the considerable expenditure involved: e.g. Carnegie Mellon (one of the smaller institutions at 6 500 students) has invested $3.5 M in wiring alone. The book is attractively presented and, for network planners and managers, is well worth the price.
David Hutchison University of Lancaster, UK distribution with the use of telecommunication facilities and software functions). The book gives an overview of the changing industry, looks at policy issues, debates and options, and examines controversies such as the diversity of telecommunications services, and the implications of technological development. Well over half of the book is taken up with annexes containing questionnaire data and OECD member country policies.
Business data communications (2nd edn) D A Stamper, Benjamin/ Cummings, USA (1989) 556pp, £17.95, ISBN 0-8053-0302-2 This expanded and updated edition continues to aim to provide a balance between the technical aspects of data communications and related managerial issues. It retains the same organization, with the chapters arranged to follow the seven layers of OSI from the bottom up, and is still largely directed at students on computer systems courses.
computer communications