Internet Routing Architectures

The Internet, an upstart academic experiment in the late 1960s, struggles with identity and success today. From the ARPANET to the NSFnet to ANYBODYSNET, the Internet is no longer owned by a single entity; it is owned by anybody who can afford to buy space on it. Tens of millions of users are seeking connectivity, and tens of thousands of companies are feeling left out if they do not tap into the Internet. This has put network designers and administrators under a lot of pressure to keep up with networking and connectivity needs. Understanding networking, and especially routing, has become a necessity. Some people are surprised when networks fail and melt down, but others are surprised when they don't. This seems to be the case because there is so little useful information out there. Much of the information on routing that has been available to designers and administrators up until now is doubly frustrating: The information makes you think you know how to build your network—until you try, and find out that you don't. The first edition of this book addressed real routing issues, using real scenarios, in a comprehensive and accessible way. In addition to providing a thorough update to the original material, this edition introduces recent enhancements to the BGP protocol, discusses changes surrounding registration and allocation of Internet numbers, and provides additional information on research and educational networks