University-grade material, but worth it.

First some context: My university background is in humanities, but I spent dotcom and aftewarded becoming an ISP sysadmin and junior network admin. My academic mathematic and science skills leave much to be desired. The presented a problem for me when I first purchased Perros' book. From the start, Perros makes it clear that the book is for exceptional network-specializing undergraduates, graduate students or networking professionals He wasn't kidding.

That said, it is a testament to Perros' writing that I've found myself learning about the physics of light, for example, or obscure mathematical symbols (to me anyway). I've found his book to be dense with information, but in the 5 months I have had it, it is something I can continually refer back to, and learn more as I'm able.

Of late I've been reading up on MPLS, and his chapters on MPLS was refreshing. Of all the books I've read (mostly Cisco based), and RFC's, Perros' book helped me understand MPLS the most.
Maybe it will be the same for you.

I would recommend this book to someone who has the ability to properly absorb it. And despite my own shortcomings, I'm very glad I bought this book.

Other Reviews

• Graduate Student Review
• Usual textbook
• Not worth it
• University-grade material, but worth it.
• The best and only book devoted to connection-oriented networks.