Roadmap

The first four chapters are based on the systems approach, requirements analysis, and flow analysis from the first edition. They have been updated to include changes and improvements in network analysis since the release of the first edition. Chapter 1 introduces network analysis, including the systems approach, and provides definitions and concepts that will be used throughout the book. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on the concepts and process of determining requirements for your network, and Chapter 4 discusses how traffic flow analysis can be used to couple performance requirements to various traffic flows.

Chapters 5 through 9 are new for this edition, covering the network architecture process. Chapter 5 provides an introduction to network architecture, developing internal and external relationships within and between major functions (addressing and routing, security, network management, and performance) in the network. Chapters 6 through 9 detail each of these major functions, developing component and reference architectures that describe their internal and external relationships.

Chapters 10 and 11 are not significantly different from their network design counterparts in the first edition. Chapter 10 discusses how to decide which technologies are optimal for your network, including developing technology evaluation criteria and using the results of network analysis and architecture. Chapter 11 complements Chapter 10, detailing how network technologies can be interconnected, including switching, routing, and flow-based mechanisms.

At the beginning of each chapter, I have provided a list of recommended reading that will be useful to you in understanding the concepts of that chapter. This book introduces a fair number of new concepts, so I also provide an extensive glossary of acronyms and terms that are used throughout the book.