How networks work / Frank J. Derfler, Jr. and Les Freed ; illustrated by Michael Troller.

Includes index.

pt. 1. Communicating by wire -- How telegraphs work -- How early telephones worked -- pt. 2. Mixing computers and telephones -- How early networks worked -- How early communications terminals worked -- How data is encoded -- How a modem works -- How a remote terminal works -- How serial communication works -- The PC as a terminal -- How broadband works -- How computer telephony integration works -- pt. 3. Local area networks (LANs) -- How Local area networks work -- How networking operating systems work -- How network interface cards work -- How network cables work -- How wireless networks work -- How server-based LANs work -- How peer-to-peer networks work -- How enterprise network systems work -- pt. 4. Links between LANs -- How routers, switches, and firewalls work -- How metropolitan area networks work -- How circuit-switched digital networks work -- How packet-switched networks work -- pt. 5. The Internet -- How Internet connections work -- How network security works -- pt. 6. Networks for online business -- How an online business infrastructure works -- pt. 7. Intertainment -- How convergence works.