I really feel the need to correct the impression left by some of the reviewer's above who, in my opinion, clearly need this book. One says that Goralski is wrong referencing the "U" (unidirectional) in UPSR as transmission; instead, U refers to switching. Huh? That's just wrong; read the standard (and just about other document written about SONET). (As an aside, this reviewer has reversed the specifications -- GR-1230 is BLSR and GR-1400 is UPSR.) Another reviewer makes a big deal about what pg. 223 says about the transport of the DS-1 framing bit in a VT1.5 mapping. What the book says is that the "The DS-1 framing bit is not transported through the SONET portion of the DS-1 link..." It goes on to say that "The asynchronous mapping does not carry the DS-1 framing bit in the overhead. The framing bit is included in the VT1.5 bit stream..."

I quote these errors only because I think that the reviewers' misunderstandings should not stop people from buying an excellent reference text.


Comprehensive Guide to SONET   June 13, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Mr. Goralski has once again taken a difficult topic and presented it in a fashion that the average networking professional can understand. His treatment of SONET is along the same lines as his ATM and APPN books, well written, technically accurate and very useful. The content of the book provides a wide range of information about optical networking equipment, applications of SONET and a unique historical perspective.


Excellent read for non-engineers   July 17, 2000
Angelo Liberatore (New York, NY)
12 out of 16 found this review helpful

Mr. Goralski offers an excellent overview of current SONET architecture as well as future trends (i.e. integration and implications of DWDM technology) and empowers the reader to better differentiate among competing equipment vendors. I would highly recommend this book to professional investors seeking a serious and greater understanding of the telecommunications equipment market.


An accurate, well-aimed work   July 2, 2001
Steven Shepard (Williston, VT USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

As an author of technical books myself, I am always looking for titles that tell the story of a particular technology in a comprehensive, clearly-written and standards-oriented fashion. Walter Goralski's books do this and do it well. I own all of his titles, and the reason I like them (besides the author's sense of humor) is the fact that they are written around the standards that govern the telecommunications industry. Many companies interpret the standards and the terminology in different ways, which is fine - that's how they are designed. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to differences of opinion about meanings or interpretations. Walter sticks to the standards, however, always ensuring the availability of a literary technological benchmark.

I strongly recommend the book.