This two-volume set focuses on fundamental concepts and design goals (i.e., a switch/router's key features), architectures, and practical applications of switch/routers in IP networks. The discussion includes practical design examples to illustrate how switch/routers are designed and how the key features are implemented. Designing Switch/Routers: Fundamental Concepts, Design Methods, Architectures, and Applications begins by providing an introductory level discussion that covers the functions and architectures of the switch/router. The first book considers the switch/router as a generic Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding device without placing emphasis on any particular manufacturer's device. The underlining concepts and design methods are not only positioned to be applicable to this generic switch/router, but also to the typical switch/router seen in the industry. The discussion provides a better insight into the protocols, methods, processes, and tools that go into designing switch/routers.

The second volume explains the design and architectural considerations, as well as, the typical processes and steps used to build practical switch/routers. It then discusses the advantages of using Ethernet in today's networks and why Ethernet continues to play a bigger role in Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN) design. This book set provides a discussion of the design of switch/routers and is written in a style to appeal to undergraduate and graduate-level students, engineers, and researchers in the networking and telecoms industry, as well as academics and other industry professionals. The material and discussion are structured in such a way that they could serve as standalone teaching material for networking and telecom courses and/or supplementary material for such courses.