From Amazon.co.uk
The first edition of
Optical Networks: A Practical Perspective accumulated lots of happy readers, largely because the authors took care to explain the physical phenomena that allow light to carry information as well as the design principles that characterise good optical networks, particularly wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). Very little was assumed, and even the most complicated formulas appeared alongside annotations that shed light on the behaviour being described. The latest edition of the book has everything that made the first edition great--the physics haven't changed much, after all--as well as up-to-date information about networking equipment and techniques. The second edition is a first-class revision; you'll want it even if you already own the old version.
Half of this book has more to do with network engineering than with theoretical matters. The authors take care to discuss all aspects of optical data communications with efficiency (in terms of capacity utilisation, management effort and monetary cost) in mind. There's not a lot of discussion of vendors' specific products, so you'll have to look elsewhere for configuration instructions. But for getting your network designed and understanding how its components communicate data and provide redundancy--as well as for providing reference to other authoritative works--this book is tops. --David Wall
Topics covered: Tools and technologies for communicating data (including digitised voice signals) over fibre optic cables. SONET gets a lot of attention, as does wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) as a technique for increasing capacity. Network design--with an eye toward efficiency and survivability--is dealt with in authoritative detail.
Review
"This book is not only thorough in covering the physics and the applications of optical communications, but it discusses the relevance of technology to the emerging intelligent optical networking revolution. This should be mandatory reading for every professional in our business." - Desh Deshpande, Chairman, Sycamore Networks, Inc. "This edition of Optical Networks will greatly aid everyone in the business of creating change and help them understand the science behind and the applications of an optical world." - Mike Perusse, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology, Qwest "Rajiv Ramaswami is the industry's best teacher on optical technology, and this book is the most lucid, scholarly, and enlightening guide to wavelength division multiplexing published to date." - George Gilder, Editor, Gilder Technology Report and author of Telecosm