If you are choosing between Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall’s Computer Networks and William Stallings’s Data and Computer Communications, match the book to the material you want to study. Tanenbaum and Wetherall take a broad computer-network architecture and protocols approach; Stallings gives more emphasis to data communications, transmission standards, and implementation detail. If time and budget allow, the reviewer of the editions discussed here recommends using both because their coverage complements each other.
This comparison concerns the fifth edition of Computer Networks and the ninth updated edition of Data and Computer Communications, as reviewed in 2011. It is useful for understanding those editions’ emphases, not as a guide to current prices, editions, or companion-resource availability.
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How do the books differ?
| Book | Primary emphasis | Notable coverage in the reviewed edition |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Networks, fifth edition, Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall | Broad computer-network architecture and protocols | Wireless networking, routing, transport, applications, and security |
| Data and Computer Communications, ninth updated edition, William Stallings | Data communications, transmission standards, and implementation detail | Cabling and transmission standards, high-speed Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Mobile IP, MPLS, and security |
Both books address overlapping networking subjects, but their differing emphases make them more complementary than interchangeable. The comparison is based on an Embedded.com review of the named editions.
What does Tanenbaum and Wetherall’s Computer Networks emphasize?
The fifth edition is presented as a wide-ranging treatment of networking, from physical transmission through network architecture, transport, applications, and security. Its updates connect foundational topics with wireless and Internet-era developments.
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Wireless, physical, and link-layer topics
- The opening chapter updates or adds mobile and wireless phones, 802.11, RFID, and sensor networks.
- Physical-layer material adds digital modulation, including OFDM, 3G/CDMA, Fiber to the Home, and power-line networking.
- Point-to-point coverage updates error detection and correction and adds convolutional and LDPC codes, with Packet over SONET and ADSL examples.
- The MAC chapter refreshes examples involving gigabit Ethernet, 802.11, 802.16, Bluetooth, RFID, and VLAN switching.
Routing, transport, applications, and security
- Network-layer coverage expands QoS, internetworking, BGP, OSPF, CIDR, multicast, and anycast routing.
- Transport material adds delay-tolerant networking and expands TCP congestion control.
- Applications coverage updates the Web and streaming media and adds CDNs and peer-to-peer networks.
- Security coverage updates firewalls and VPNs and adds 802.11 security and Kerberos V5.
The review describes the chapter 9 bibliography as containing 300 citations, with more than half referring to papers and books published since 2000. That is a figure reported for this reviewed edition, not a claim about later editions.
What does Stallings’s Data and Computer Communications emphasize?
The ninth updated edition puts particular weight on transmission methods, standards, and network technologies. Its changes include the 2009 ANSI/TIA 568-C standards and ISO/IEC 11801 twisted-pair transmission, VLAN technology, expanded encoding coverage, and updated high-speed Ethernet material that includes 100-Gbps and multilane distribution.
It also updates Wi-Fi/IEEE 802.11 coverage, adds Mobile IP, devotes a full chapter to MPLS, and includes two rewritten and expanded security chapters. This makes the book a natural choice when cabling, transmission standards, and implementation-focused technologies are central to what you want to learn.
What learning resources came with the reviewed editions?
The review describes substantial supplementary material for both books, though the resources differ. Pearson Education/Prentice Hall is identified as the publisher. These descriptions are historical: check current publisher or author pages for availability before relying on them.
| Book | Resources described in the review |
|---|---|
| Computer Networks, fifth edition | Resources associated with David J. Wetherall’s University of Washington page, including related links, tutorials, organizations, steganography demonstrations, and an online network-protocol simulator. |
| Data and Computer Communications, ninth updated edition | Two supplementary PDF chapters covering electronic mail, HTTP, and DNS, and Internet multimedia support; the review also lists 20 other appendices. |
Which book should you choose?
Choose Computer Networks for broad protocol and architecture coverage
It is the closer fit if your priority is following networking across layers and studying subjects such as routing, TCP congestion control, applications, wireless networks, and network security in a broad overview.
Choose Data and Computer Communications for transmission and standards detail
It is the closer fit if you want more emphasis on physical transmission, cabling standards, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Mobile IP, MPLS, and security coverage as described for this edition.
Use both if you want the complementary perspectives
The reviewer’s practical recommendation is to get both when time and budget permit. Their coverage overlaps, but the distinct emphases can help connect network architecture and protocols with transmission and implementation topics.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the page counts and prices still current?
No. The review’s figures are historical, from its 2011-era discussion, and should not be treated as current listings. It reports about 875 pages for the reviewed Tanenbaum/Wetherall edition and about 800 pages for the reviewed Stallings edition. It also gives historical prices of $128 in print and just over $50 for the ebook for Tanenbaum/Wetherall, and just under $60 for the Stallings ebook. Verify the exact edition, format, page count, price, and resource access with a current retailer or publisher listing before purchasing.
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