An Introduction to Computer Networks¶

Peter L Dordal

Department of Computer Science

Loyola University Chicago

Welcome to the website for An Introduction to Computer
Networks, a free and open general-purpose
computer-networking textbook, complete with diagrams and
exercises. It covers the LAN, internetworking and transport
layers, focusing primarily on TCP/IP. Particular attention is
paid to congestion; other special topics include queuing,
real-time traffic, network management, security, mininet and the
ns simulator.

The book is suitable as the primary text for an undergraduate
or introductory graduate course in computer networking, as a
supplemental text for a wide variety of network-related courses,
and as a reference work.

It is released under the Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs,
though note that some commercial use is allowed (see the preface
for licensing details).

Further information about classroom use is available in the preface.

As of the end of July 2020 I am pleased to introduce the second
edition. The first version of the second edition,
2.0.1, is essentially identical to the final release of the
first edition, 1.9.21, except that the chapters have been
divided into more manageable size; see the discussion in the
preface for more. Here are the versions for the second edition:

The last version of the first edition,
1.9.21, is available in the following forms:

I have started a directory of , such as
powerpoints, slides and labs. Submissions are welcome!

I have started a directory of, such as powerpoints, slides and labs. Submissions are welcome!

A comment
form is now available. Let me know what you think!

In the html versions the per-chapter table-of-contents sidebar
is now collapsible, for better use of screen space on smaller
devices. Unfortunately, this has broken the search feature.
Repairs are underway, but progress has been slow.

See the preface
for more information on the unicode issues that have led to the
unicode-safer versions above.

Edition 1.0 of the book is permanently available as Online html, Zipped html, pdf and epub
although most users are more likely to want the current version
above.

Peter Dordal