Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!sco!jeffr
From: jeffr@sco.COM (jeffr)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.ibm
Subject: Re: Looking for a Good Reference on SNA
Summary: Three possibilities
Message-ID: <3368@scolex.sco.COM>
Date: 2 Oct 89 00:28:45 GMT
References: 
Reply-To: jeffr@sco.COM (jeffr)
Distribution: na
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Lines: 45

In article  adnan@sgtech.UUCP (Adnan Yaqub) writes:
>Anybody know of a good introductory reference on SNA in particular and
>(possibly) IBM protocols in general?

A few people have suggested things like the protocol reference documents
by IBM.  These are not good introductory material, unless you are prepared
to try to absorb massive amounts of detailed specification before you begin
to understand what is going on.  On the other hand, those documents are
essential if you are going to try to implement these protocols.

There are at least three books I can suggest.  I know that there are
more.

(1) Cypser, R.J. _Communications_Architecture_for_Distributed_Systems_,
    Addison-Wesley, 1978(?).  For a long time the standard introduction
    to SNA, this book is now kind of out of date.  I've heard a rumor that
    a newer edition was being prepared but I don't know if it is true.
    This book purports to be a general introduction to data communications
    concepts using SNA as an example.  Given the date it was written,
    I suppose it was OK then, but now it is severely lacking in several
    areas, including discussion of LAN technologies, the newer Extended
    Network Addressing, LU6.2, and all of that sort of thing.  It may
    probably serve as a general introduction to the concepts, though,
    if you are willing to accept that some of the details are out of date.
(2) Guruge, Anura, _SNA:_Theory_and_Practice_, Pergamon Infotech, 1984.
    This is more up-to-date but is very detailed and a little dry.  It
    may or may not serve as a good introduction.  If you don't know much
    about general data communications concepts, don't bother with this
    book first.
(3) Martin, James, [title and publisher unknown], 1988 or 1989.
    I haven't read this book but I've been told --- by somebody I work
    with who has --- that it is a pretty good introduction, and that it
    is the most up-to-date.  I have seen it, and it has lots of nice
    diagrams (for what this is worth).  I'd probably look for this one
    first, then try for the others.

I am certain that there others, though.  I've seen them while browsing
at Computer Literacy bookstore in San Jose, CA.  In the SF bay area
I've seen other bookstores like Stanford's and Stacy's that are likely
to have such books.  Elsewhere you're on your own.

Jeff Radick
Networking & Communications
The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
...!uunet!sco!jeffr or jeffr@sco.COM