BKMATRIX.RVW 930817 Digital Press PO Box 3027 One Burlington Woods Drive Burlington, MA 01803-9593 800-DIGITAL (800-344-4825) "The Matrix: Computer Networks and Conferencing Systems Worldwide", Quarterman, 1990, 1-55558-033-5 matrix@tic.com If Ed Krol's book is the "user's guide" to the Internet, Quarterman's work is the technical reference manual. Taking as its title William Gibson's term from "Neuromancer", "The Matrix" covers all aspects, not just of the TCP/IP Internet proper, but all of the component parts, major and minor, connected or not, which make up electronic communication and cooperative computing systems. It may be going a bit far to say this is the "reference" to the developing cyberspace. "Index" might be the more accurate term. When confronted with a technical problem, you likely won't find the ultimate answer here, even with 700 pages of text. You will, however, find an initial discussion of pretty well any internetworking entity, and either bibliography or contact information to take it further. The book is divided into two main parts. The first, labelled "Background", is a conceptual discussion of networks and networking. Specific protocols and bodies are covered here, but the details of actual working networks are left to part two. Chapter one is an introduction to the basic principles and components of networks, and a description and outline for the rest of part one. Chapter two covers "User Services" and the actual functions of networks and "Computer Mediated Communications" (CMC is an important acronym in the book), while chapter three explores the uses to which these features and functions are put. Chapter four and five deal with the various protocols and standards used in network communication. The technical protocols which fit easily within the ISO/OSI model are discussed first. "Meta" protocols, which deal with management types of issues are covered separately. "Administration", chapter six, seems rather odd until one realizes that it is laying out the way of examining and describing actual "real world" networks that is used in part two. It is difficult to say how important this is. On the one hand, the entries in part two are laid out in a clear and logical fashion. On the other, discussions of purpose, administration and funding are too often neglected in discussions of networking issues, and Quarterman's work puts a lot of this back into perspective. Chapter seven, "History and Future", is not exactly a "time line" of computer communications. Rather, there are interesting historical tidbits from the stories of the development of component pieces of "the net". This chapter is fascinating reading, although by no means exhaustive. (Canada gets no mention at all in the development of the X.25 protocol, although Quarterman does later redeem himself by admitting that Datapac was the world's first public data net.) (No wonder there is so much to hate about Datapac.) Of the future, well, with the advantage of coming in halfway into Quarterman's projection, perhaps it's best to say nothing. Chapter eight deals with the various bodies involved in producing and formalizing standards and protocols. This section is a tremendous resource in terms of the different groups involved in communications development on an on- going basis. Part two, as mentioned, details the actual "real world" networks. Chapter nine gives an overview and outline of the scope of the section, as well as dealing with the thorny issue of addressing schemes. Chapter ten deals with various "worldwide" networks (including, in an interesting departure from network snobbery, Fidonet) while chapter eleven covers the Internet proper. Chapters twelve through twenty describe the plethora of national and regional networks by continental and sub-continental areas. (And I do not appreciate the comment that Canada is "too small to develop [networks] itself.") Chapter twenty-one briefly discusses proprietary commercial systems such as the WELL, Compuserve and MCI Mail. It is interesting to note that, in the few years since publication, most of these systems now at least exchange mail with the Internet. There are two major appendices. The first is strictly reference material: a listing of public data networks. The second is a discussion of Computer mediated communication and the law. Once again, this is mostly U.S. law that is referenced, although European Community regulatory bodies are mentioned briefly. The last page of the book contains a questionnaire about the desire for an "electronic" version of the book. Such an ongoing project would be highly interesting. Unfortunately, it has not come to pass. What has developed is "Matrix News", a monthly publication devoted to the topic. It is available in print, or in ASCII or Postscript format electronically. The number of maps and geographic "graphs" has spun off a sister publication, "Matrix Maps Quarterly", which is available in print or Postscript format. Those interested can contact: Matrix Information and Directory Services, Inc. (MIDS) mids@tic.com +1-512-451-7602 fax: +1-512-450-1436 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 500W Austin, TX 78723 U.S.A. As stated previously, this book does not contain technical details. Although it discussed the RS-232 standard and TCP/IP protocol, it will not assist you to configure a UUCP machine or program UDP packets. The intelligent reader, even without familiarity with computer concepts, should be able to comprehend the material included in the book. Novice readers, however, may find the text to be larded with references to protocols, standards groups and other TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms). It would be a pity if they allowed themselves to be scared off: Quarterman is a source that would allow the newcomer to start to make sense of the alphabet soup. "The Matrix" is not a "how to" book for connecting to the Internet, although it certainly contains all the contacts necessary for doing so. Neither is it a treatise on the use of network communications and functions, although some of the discussions of network usage are considered and thoughtful. The contents, although clearly explained, are perhaps too formidable to be an "introduction" for the novice network user. I referred to it as an index at the beginning of this review. Perhaps it is primarily a signpost, pointing the way to the myriad paths of networking and internetworking. The scope of "The Matrix" extends too far to examine each topic in detail. At each point, however, bibliographic references or organizational contacts are available for further exploration. No matter where you want to go, you can "get there from here." For those who merely wish to connect to Usenet and get alt.feethy.peetchers, this book will not be necessary. For those wanting to explore the global possibilities of computer networking, this book is a must. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993 BKMATRIX.RVW 930817