Book Introduction:

This online book is a structured, introductory approach to the basic concepts and principles of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol suite, how the most important protocols function, and their basic configuration in the Microsoft® Windows Server® 2003 and Windows® XP operating systems. This book is primarily a discussion of concepts and principles to lay a conceptual foundation for the TCP/IP protocol suite. Unlike many other introductory TCP/IP texts, this book provides an integrated discussion of both Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).

This book is not a discussion of TCP/IP planning, configuration, deployment, management, or application development. For a discussion of TCP/IP planning, configuration, deployment, and management, see the online Help for Windows Server 2003 and the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit. For a discussion of how to develop TCP/IP applications using Windows Sockets, see the Microsoft Developer Network.

This book provides an educational vehicle for the fundamentals of TCP/IP to either prepare the readers for a career in information technology or to augment their knowledge of TCP/IP-based networking in Microsoft Windows. This book is not intended to be a primer for computing or networking technology.

Intended Audience:

This book is written for the following audiences:

* Information technology students, who can use this book as a textbook for a comprehensive introductory TCP/IP course taught inside your organization or at an educational institution.

* Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs), who can use this book as background information when preparing to take the courses and exams for an MCSE certification.

* Microsoft Windows network administrators and general technical staff or anyone who is currently managing a Windows network and wants to gain additional technical knowledge about TCP/IP components and services and their basic configuration in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

This book assumes a foundation of knowledge that includes basic computing and networking concepts. For example, basic computing knowledge includes binary and hexadecimal numbers, parts of a computer, the role of software and hardware, and so forth. Basic networking knowledge includes the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802 model, Ethernet and 802.11 wireless LAN standards, parts of a network, and so forth.

This book also assumes familiarity with Windows, such as desktop navigation and knowledge of configuration facilities such as Control Panel, Microsoft Management Console snap-ins, and the command prompt.