Front Cover
Praise for the First Edition of TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1:
The Protocols
“This is sure to be the bible for TCP/IP developers and users. Within minutes of
picking up the text, I encountered several scenarios that had tripped up both my
colleagues and myself in the past. Stevens reveals many of the mysteries once held
tightly by the ever-elusive networking gurus. Having been involved in the
implementation of TCP/IP for some years now, I consider this by far the finest text to
date.”
—Robert A. Ciampa, network engineer, Synernetics, division of 3COM
“While all of Stevens’ books are readable and technically excellent, this new opus is
awesome. Although many books describe the TCP/IP protocols, Stevens provides a
level of depth and real-world detail lacking from the competition. He puts the reader
inside TCP/IP using a visual approach and shows the protocols in action.”
—Steven Baker, networking columnist, Unix Review
“TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1, is an excellent reference for developers, network
administrators, or anyone who needs to understand TCP/IP technology. TCP/IP
Illustrated is comprehensive in its coverage of TCP/IP topics, providing enough details
to satisfy the experts while giving enough background and commentary for the
novice.”
—Bob Williams, vice president, Marketing, NetManage, Inc.
“. . . [T]he difference is that Stevens wants to show as well as tell about the protocols.
His principal teaching tools are straightforward explanations, exercises at the ends of
chapters, byte-by-byte diagrams of headers and the like, and listings of actual traffic as
examples.”
—Walter Zintz, UnixWorld
“Much better than theory only. . . . W. Richard Stevens takes a multihost-based
configuration and uses it as a travelogue of TCP/IP examples with illustrations.
TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1, is based on practical examples that reinforce the
theory—distinguishing this book from others on the subject, and making it both
readable and informative.”
—Peter M. Haverlock, consultant, IBM TCP/IP Development
“The diagrams he uses are excellent and his writing style is clear and readable. In
sum, Stevens has made a complex topic easy to understand. This book merits
everyone’s attention. Please read it and keep it on your bookshelf.”
—Elizabeth Zinkann, sys admin
“W. Richard Stevens has produced a fine text and reference work. It is well organized
and very clearly written with, as the title suggests, many excellent illustrations
exposing the intimate details of the logic and operation of IP, TCP, and the supporting
cast of protocols and applications.”
—Scott Bradner, consultant, Harvard University OIT/NSD
TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1
The Protocols
Second Edition
Kevin R. Fall
W. Richard Stevens
Originally written by Dr. W. Richard Stevens.
Revised by Kevin Fall.
Upper Saddle River, NJ • Boston • Indianapolis • San Francisco
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with or arising out of the use of the information or programs contained herein.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fall, Kevin R.
TCP/IP illustrated.—2nd ed. / Kevin R. Fall, W. Richard Stevens.
p. cm.
Stevens’ name appears first on the earlier edition.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-321-33631-6 (v. 1 : hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-321-33631-3 (v. 1 : hardcover : alk. paper) 1. TCP/IP (Computer network
protocol)
I. Stevens, W. Richard. II. Title.
TK5105.55.S74 2012
004.6’2—dc23
2011029
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by
copyright, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited
reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission to use
material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc.,
Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you
may fax your request to (201) 236-3290.
ISBN-13: 978-0-321-33631-6
ISBN-10: 0-321-33631-3
Text printed in the United States on recycled paper at Edwards Brothers in Ann Arbor,
Michigan.
First printing, November 2011
To Vicki, George, Audrey, Maya, Dylan, and Jan,
for their insight, tolerance, and support
through the long nights and weekends.
—Kevin