A.B.: The best way to learn about computer networking is to get hands-on experience. The hands on experience can be on the job, in a lab environment, or by receiving hands on training from a qualified instructor. One of the most significant barriers to learning is just reading or studying and never actually working with network software. My best advice is to plan on learning by reading as much as you can and then supplementing that by working with the hardware/software as much as you can.
Amazon.com: Can you talk about your working methods, particularly how they pertain to writing about topic(s) in your subject area(s)? How did you become a computer book author?
A.B.: Most of my computer-networking knowledge has come from reading about a topic, then implementing the technology in either a test or production environment. Once I have enough experience with it and have thus earned the right, I teach the technology.Working with and teaching TCP/IP has given me some valuable insight into the simplicity of TCP/IP suite. TCP/IP JumpStart is my first book. I wrote it because I wanted to aid people who are just beginning a computer network career by sharing these insights.
Amazon.com: As dynamic and quickly changing as computers and the Internet can be, when do you make the decision to include or ignore certain topics in your writing?
A.B.: Having taught TCP/IP dozens of times, to hundreds of students, I have learned which topics to key in on and spend more time discussing and clarifying. Based on my experience and the experiences of my students, I strive to include the most critical topics and go deeper into those areas. If I find a topic that another author has included, or goes into great depth on, yet it is not a topic that I have found useful as an administrator, I think it can be ignored. I include topics that are still being developed; for example, TCP/IP JumpStart includes a chapter describing the next version of TCP/IP.
Amazon.com: What is the future of the topic(s) you are writing about? How would you like this/these area(s) to develop over time?
A.B.: TCP/IP has an exciting future. With the growth of the Internet and the growing demand for TCP/IP experience, TCP/IP is a topic that every network administrator must be comfortable with.
Amazon.com: What books are you currently reading? (They don't have to be technology-related!)
A.B.: The Testament - John Grisham
Amazon.com: In addition to writing, do you participate in any other activities or interests related to the topic(s) you write about? What other experience do you have that complements this/these topic(s)?
A.B.: Besides writing about TCP/IP, I teach TCP/IP courses and work in a production environment that uses TCP/IP.
Amazon.com: What do you hope readers will gain from your writing that they may not gain from other books on the same or similar topics?
A.B.: As a visual learner, I learn best when I can apply a simple visual analogy to a complex topic. Since most many people are visual learners, I have always taught my networking classes using many simple and visual analogies. The whole purpose behind TCP/IP JumpStart is to provide simple explanations and analogies of the TCP/IP suite in a visual environment. Instead of writing a boringly technical book about this technology, I have written an interesting, easy-to-read book that includes many illustrations. I hope that a readers of TCP/IP JumpStart will gain an appreciation for the simplicity of TCP/IP through my use of simple analogies in this book. Instead of writing a boringly technical book about a technology, I believe I have written an interesting, easy to read book about technology. Anyone who will be taking any TCP/IP computer-networking course would benefit tremendously by reading this ahead of time in advance or concurrently with classroom study.
College of Internet and E-Commerce Test (to be used while taking the test)
College of Internet and E-Commerce Hallway
