UNIX Network Programming with TCP/IP

This book describes describes the fundamental concepts of client-server computing used to build all distributed computing systems, and presents an in-depth guide to the Posix sockets standard utilized by UNIX and other operating systems. It compares leading server designs, and describes the key tools and techniques used to build clients and servers, including Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

The importance of platform independent networks. Understanding the Internet: what it is, addresses, names and routers, levels of protocols (IP, UDP and TCP). How TCP works: port numbers, active and passive opening, establishing connections.

The UNIX socket system calls (socket, bind, listen, connect etc.). Writing a client. Using select to manage multiple I/O streams. Alternative call-back based solutions. Writing a server. Use of fork to service client connections. Mixing bespoke client-server applications with shared databases or shared files.