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Communication networks management
Communication networks management Kornel Terplan Prentice-Hall Inc., USA, £5Z05 (hardback), ISBN 0-13-153065-8, 595 pp Although there are various textbooks available in the area of computer networks, computer performance and network architectures, none of them address the area of network management. The book by Terplan is aimed at partly overcoming this gap. It provides a detailed practical guideline for professionals in the field of communication networks management. The book consists of fifteen chapters covering a wide range of topics, such as: • network operational and technical control • network administration • network modelling, analysis and tuning • network capacity planning • integrated communication network management • selection criteria for applicable management tools • a checklist for responsibilities and qualifying experience of personnel involved in the area of network management. The subject matter is presented in terms of business requirements; that is, the network is treated as a business
tool. The focus is therefore nonacademic and it covers the functions required to implement network management as a business tool. The identified requirements are balanced in most cases by the author's assessment of existing products which implement network management solutions. This approach is very useful as it enables the practitioner to quickly place these products in context. The author uses a terse writing style interspersed with lists of points. These lists are useful checklists but they are used too often and break up the narrative text, making it more difficult for the reader to stay with the author's flow of thought. An example of this can be seen in Section 2.2, page 12. The author gives a list of points relating to network performance, which is long and difficult to absorb, and the items are not explained in the text. The general presentation is good. The subject matter is broken up into logical divisions and the use of diagrams and tables make for a clearer presentation overall. Also, chapter introductions and summaries lend conciseness to the text.
However, the checklist approach does undermine the clarity of the presentation. The author's coverage of existing network management products is largely concerned with the products offered by IBM. This somewhat reflects IBM's lead in this area and the usual idea of IBM's methods becoming de facto standards. The author assumes a good knowledge of IBM's SNA components when outlining the functions of these products. To a reader who is not familiar with SNA these expositions will not be very easy to grasp. It appears that the book has been targeted at network managers and systems programmers familiar with IBM products, and this lessens the general applicability of the book. Nevertheless, the book is primarily intended for network planners, administrators, analysts and technical personnel, in particular at IBM practitioners and those who may wish to understand how IBM has/is implementing network management facilities. The text could be adapted by academics for developing undergraduate and graduate courses. Overall, it is a useful reference book which gives avery good bibliography. With all the flaws, I personally welcomed this book on my shelf!
Ahmed Patel ICL Information Technology Centre Dublin, Ireland
$TEMC
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the international journal on the theoretical developments in computer systems science and their applications in computer systems engineering
Coverage includes fault-tolerant computer systems, local-area network engineering, parallel-processing systems,theoretical analysis of computer systems,distributed systems,design of large software systems,systemsperformance evaluation, real-time systems, special-purpose systems,and specification and design issuesfor multiple cooperating processor systems.
Computer SystemsScience and Engineering is essential reading for researchers, developers, vendors and users of computer systems. Forfurtherinformation andsample copy,please contact: Geraldine Hills, Butterworth Scientific Limited, PO Box 63, Westbury House, Bury Street, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5BH, UK. Telephone: (0483) 300966: Telex 301563 SCITECG; Fax: (0483) 506254. Prospective authors can obtain copies of the guidelines for authors from the Executive Editor at the above address.
vol 10 no 6 december 1987
313
tool. The focus is therefore nonacademic and it covers the functions required to implement network management as a business tool. The identified requirements are balanced in most cases by the author's assessment of existing products which implement network management solutions. This approach is very useful as it enables the practitioner to quickly place these products in context. The author uses a terse writing style interspersed with lists of points. These lists are useful checklists but they are used too often and break up the narrative text, making it more difficult for the reader to stay with the author's flow of thought. An example of this can be seen in Section 2.2, page 12. The author gives a list of points relating to network performance, which is long and difficult to absorb, and the items are not explained in the text. The general presentation is good. The subject matter is broken up into logical divisions and the use of diagrams and tables make for a clearer presentation overall. Also, chapter introductions and summaries lend conciseness to the text.
However, the checklist approach does undermine the clarity of the presentation. The author's coverage of existing network management products is largely concerned with the products offered by IBM. This somewhat reflects IBM's lead in this area and the usual idea of IBM's methods becoming de facto standards. The author assumes a good knowledge of IBM's SNA components when outlining the functions of these products. To a reader who is not familiar with SNA these expositions will not be very easy to grasp. It appears that the book has been targeted at network managers and systems programmers familiar with IBM products, and this lessens the general applicability of the book. Nevertheless, the book is primarily intended for network planners, administrators, analysts and technical personnel, in particular at IBM practitioners and those who may wish to understand how IBM has/is implementing network management facilities. The text could be adapted by academics for developing undergraduate and graduate courses. Overall, it is a useful reference book which gives avery good bibliography. With all the flaws, I personally welcomed this book on my shelf!
Ahmed Patel ICL Information Technology Centre Dublin, Ireland
$TEMC
ONPUiiR . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"8 ....
1" . . . .
~
~
the international journal on the theoretical developments in computer systems science and their applications in computer systems engineering
Coverage includes fault-tolerant computer systems, local-area network engineering, parallel-processing systems,theoretical analysis of computer systems,distributed systems,design of large software systems,systemsperformance evaluation, real-time systems, special-purpose systems,and specification and design issuesfor multiple cooperating processor systems.
Computer SystemsScience and Engineering is essential reading for researchers, developers, vendors and users of computer systems. Forfurtherinformation andsample copy,please contact: Geraldine Hills, Butterworth Scientific Limited, PO Box 63, Westbury House, Bury Street, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5BH, UK. Telephone: (0483) 300966: Telex 301563 SCITECG; Fax: (0483) 506254. Prospective authors can obtain copies of the guidelines for authors from the Executive Editor at the above address.
vol 10 no 6 december 1987
313