Student Resources
Data and Computer Communications, Ninth Edition
Last updated:
Useful Web Sites
Computer Science Student Resource Site: Help and advice for the long-suffering, overworked student. Errata sheet: Latest list of errors, updated at most monthly. File name is Errata-DCC9e-mmyy. If you spot any errors, please report them to 
. cnet Simulator: Developed by Professor Chris McDonald at the University of Western Australia. The cnet network simulator enables experimentation with various data link layer, network layer, routing and transport layer protocols, and with various network configurations. Tools Page: Developed by Professor Kenneth Christensen at the University of South Florida. The tools page contains downloadable tools primarily related to performance evaluation of computer networks and to TCP/IP sockets programming. . Standards: Variety of information on standards and standards bodies, provided by the IEEE Standards in Education Task Force. Data Link Simulator: Developed by Peter King at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. This tool enables students to write connection oriented data link protocols in Java and have them tested on a simulated communication channel. Network World: Information and links to resources about data communications and networking.
IETF Directory and Database: Maintains archives that relate to the Internet and IETF activities. Includes keyword-indexed library of RFCs and draft documents as well as many other documents related to the Internet and related protocols.
IEEE Communications Society: Good way to keep up on conferences, publications, etc. Has an on-line copy of my article on IPv6, which updates material in the book.
ACM Special Interest Group on Communications (SIGCOMM): Good way to keep up on conferences, publications, etc
International Telecommunications Union: Contains a listing of ITU-T Recommendations, plus information on obtaining ITU-T documents in hard copy or on DVD.
International Organization for Standardization: Contains a listing of ISO Standards, plus information on obtaining ISO documents in hard copy or on CD-ROM.
CommsDesign: Lot of useful articles, tutorials, and product information. A bit hard to navigate, but worthwhile.
Internetworking Technology Handbook: An excellent survey of many technical topics related to networking and telecommunications. Published online by Cisco.
RFCs: IETF RFC repository. Includes a complete list of all RFCs, constantly updated.
TCP/IP Resources List: A useful collection of FAQs, tutorials, guides, Web sites, and books about TCP/IP
Networking Links: Excellent collection of links related to TCP/IP.
The Bongo Project: Running IP over bongo drums. An excellent demonstration of the flexibility of a layered protocol architecture and a source of ideas for projects.
OSI History: A brief history of the origins of the OSI model.
Fourier Series Synthesis: An excellent visualization tool for Fourier series.
Johns Hopkins Signals Demonstrations: Another source of visualization tools.
Math and Physics Applets: Yet another source of visualization tools.
Wireless Developer Network: News, tutorials, and discussions on wireless topics
Siemon Company: Good collection of technical articles on cabling, plus information about cabling standards.
About Antennas: Good source of information and links.
U.S. Frequency Allocation Chart: Chart plus background paper.
Broadband Forum: Includes a FAQ and technical information about ADSL and other xDSL technologies. Forum specifications.
SONET Home Page: Useful links, tutorials, white pages, FAQs.
Spread Spectrum Scene: Excellent source of information, including technical papers, links, and an online magazine.
ATM Hot Links: Excellent collection of white papers and links.
Wireless World Research Forum: Useful collection of white papers and breifings on mobile wireless networks.
CDMA Development Group: A consortium of wireless companies active in CDMA wireless systems around the world.
Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association: Another industry consortium.
3G Americas: A trade group of Western Hemisphere companies supporting TDMA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and UMTS. Includes industry news, white papers, and other technical information.
IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee: Status and documents for all of the working groups
Ethernet: Provides general Ethernet information, technical specifications, an Ethernet reading list, and an image of inventor Robert Metcalf's original 1976 Ethernet drawing.
Ethernet Alliance: This consortium promotes Ethernet technology and products Site includes numerous white papers.
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group: Latest documents, including task force documents for 40-Gbps and 100-Gbps Ethernet.
LAN Interoperability Lab: University of New Hampshire (equipment testing for ATM, FDDI, Fast Ethernet, FDSE, Ethernet, OSPF, Network Management (SNMP), Token Ring, VG-AnyLAN).
Wi-Fi Alliance: An industry group promoting the interoperabiltiy of 802.11 products with each other and with Ethernet.
IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Working Group: Contains working group documents plus discussion archives.
Certified Wireless Network Professional: White papers, links, and other resources related to WiFi.
IPv6: Contains information about IPv6 and related topics.
IPv6 Forum: An industry consortium that promotes IPv6-related products. Includes a number of white papers and articles.
First Internet Connection: Fascinating video discussion by Leonard Kleinrock.
Inter-Domain Routing Working Group: Chartered by IETF to revise BGP and related standards. The web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
OSPF
Working Group: Chartered by IETF to develop OSPF and related standards.
The web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
RSVP Project: Home page for RSVP development.
IP Performance Metrics Working Group: Chartered by IETF to develop a set of standard metrics that can be applied to the quality, performance, and reliability of Internet data delivery services.The web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
MPLS Working Group: Chartered by IETF to develop standards related to MPLS. The Web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
MPLS Resource Center: Provides a clearinghouse for information on MPLS; includes a useful FAQ.
Broadband Forum: Includes a FAQ and technical information about ADSL and other xDSL technologies. Forum specifications.
Internet Congestion Control Research Group An Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) Research Group for the discussion and review of TCP congestion control mechanisms.
Center for Internet Research: One of the most active groups in the areas covered in this chapter. The site contains many papers and useful pointers.
TCP-Friendly Website: Summarizes some of the recent work on adaptive congestion control algorithms for non-TCP based applications, with a specific focus on schemes that share bandwidth fairly with TCP connections.
TCP Maintenance Working Group: Chartered by IETF to make minor revisions to TCP and to update congestion strategies and protocols. The web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
Computer Security Resource Center: Maintained by NIST; contains a broad range of information on security threats, technology, and standards.
CERT Coordination Center: The organization that grew from the computer emergency response team formed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Site provides good information on Internet security threats, vulnerabilities, and attack statistics.
Vmyths: Dedicated to exposing virus hoaxes and dispelling misconceptions about real viruses.
Anti-Virus Online: IBM's site on virus information; one of the best.
VirusList: Site maintained by commercial antivirus software provider. Good collection of useful information.
COAST: Comprehensive set of links to sites related to cryptography and network security.
IETF Security Area: Keep up to date on Internet security standardization efforts.
Tom Dunigan's Security Page: An excellent list of pointers to cryptography and network security web sites.
World Wide Web Consortium: Contains up-to-date information on HTTP, HTML, and URLs.
HTTP bis Working Group: Chartered by IETF to make minor revisions to HTTP and to document security issues. The Web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
DNS Extensions Working Group: Chartered by IETF to develop standards related to DNS. The Web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
SIP Forum: Nonprofit organization to promote SIP. Site contains product information, white papers, and other useful information and links.
Audio/Video Transport Working Group: Chartered by IETF to develop standards related to RTP. The Web site includes all relevant RFCs and Internet drafts.
About RTP: Web site devoted to RTP developments, including technical and industry developments.
Windows Sockets Development Information: A guide to users of WinSock, including sample source code and links to other pages.
UNIX Socket FAQ: Good list of questions and answers.
Beej's Guide to Network Programming: Using Sockets..
Windows Sockets: A Quick and Dirty Primer: By Jim Frost.