Multicast Networking and Applications
When I was approached in the summer of 1997 by Addison-Wesley to write a book on multicast networking and applications, I thought long and hard about whether to accept the offer. Although I had written a number of technical articles, I had never written a book before. Also, I was founder of a new company, StarBurst Communications, and had a high commitment to making it a success. This would mean I would need to write the book on personal time--nights, early mornings, and weekends.As is obvious, I decided to take the plunge and make the commitment. The whole area of multicast networking and applications is an emerging market, and no books have been written on the subject by a non-academic or corporate researcher. I have been told that I am a clear writer on technology subjects, having spent some time as a columnist for Data Communications magazine in the early 1990s. I have targeted this book to IS staff members in commercial organizations who need to get a total view of this new technology, its pitfalls and promises, and its potential for helping the reader's specific company.The process of writing this book has been a gratifying learning experience. Although I had knowledge of all of the topics in the book, I needed to gain more detailed information on some of them. I cannot explain a subject clearly to a reader if I do not understand it thoroughly myself. This process has thus helped me have a complete understanding of all of the issues in this emerging area in much greater detail.   AcknowledgmentsMany people have given me help and encouragement in the writing of this book. My colleagues at StarBurst have been unstinting in their support. The reviewers have been helpful in giving critiques that prompted the addition of new subjects and changes in the organization of the book, which I think has greatly strengthened the final result. I wish to single out for thanks Ted Hanss from Internet2, who encouraged me to add case studies, and Don Brutzman of the Naval Postgraduate School and Matt Naugle of ZIPCOM, Inc., who provided useful suggestions for organization. Ray Patch from Microsoft and Bob Quinn, a consultant to the IP Multicast Initiative, provided suggestions on Chapters 7-9. Markus Hofmann from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, gave me much encouragement and made many helpful suggestions relating to Chapter 8. Special thanks go to my brother, Don Miller, who was a former English teacher, English Department Chairman, and finally Headmaster at a number of private high schools. He reviewed the book for grammar and content and proved to be a good test to see if the material was easily understood, given that he is not a "techie."I also wish to acknowledge my editors at Addison-Wesley, Karen Gettman and Mary Hart, who provided me encouragement and guidance in the writing of this, my first book.Finally, a special thanks to my wife Dorcas, who provided support and encouragement as I used our personal time to complete this project.--KEN MILLER0201309793P04062001