This hands-on resource provides you with a comprehensive picture of the Internet protocol stack and the role of TCP/IP in data communication. It serves as a detailed guide to the protocols, networks, codes, signals, and equipment that make it possible to communicate using TCP/IP. You find complete bit-level descriptions of the functions performed by the headers and frames of the TCP/IP suite, making it easy for you to analyze individual data packets. The book offers you a through understanding of advanced LAN and WAN technologies, and gives you an integrated view of bridging, routing and tagging operations.