This 1986 publication was my earliest introduction to Local Area Networks (LAN) -- their hardware and software, their pros and cons. At the time, we were looking for an inexpensive way at my institution to network a half-dozen or so DOS-based PC compatible computers in our college library.

Barden wrote about ARCNet, ViaNet and Xenix. He explained how the various LAN systems worked -- the Star Network, the Ring Network, the Bus Network, and Token Passing Networks.

I gave up my quest when I encountered the following statement in the last chapter of the book: "A reasonable amount of time to install a two-station configuration starting from packing boxes is a week. A reasonable amount of time to install a six-station LAN that is fully operational (and starting with computer-knowledgeable users) is three weeks."

We would have to wait a few years until Windows 3.1 hit the scene. This was in the early 1990s after we heard about LANtastic from Artisoft, Inc. LANtastic became our network of choice before Windows 95 arrived with its built-in TCP/IP networking capabilities. ( )