A reference to every connectivity option available. This book explains and compares latest technologies to help the reader understand the technology and put knowledge to work. The book begins with a primer on general networking concepts and the description of LANs and networks. It then progresses through sections on hardware and various networking standards including an easy-to-understand explanation of the seven-layer OSI model. Also included are sections on network operating systems, as well as material that focuses on connectivity of a network to other networks and mainframe computers.