As DEVELOPERS, WE FIND ourselves challenged by the ubiquity of the Internet on a daily basis as we often need or want to provide some level of network service within our applications. Whether our goal is to allow remote monitoring of an application's health, enable multiple users to access a centralized service, or even authenticate a user's identity prior to giving him access to an application, network programming is a seemingly dark art practiced by only the most experi enced developers. We have written this text to help you meet the challenge, and to show you that network programming can be both enjoyable and easy to learn. From exploring the basics of networking, to creating complex multithreaded servers, to securing network communications, we present you with precise defi nitions, clear explanations, and easy-to-read examples. For the inexperienced network developer familiar with the C language, as well as the expert looking to pick up some extra tips, we provide information on and insight into a topic that is so often ignored, and yet sorely in need of attention.
