Hallett German

8/1/98

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Internet messaging has become the primary means of communication for the business community. However, books that messaging users can rely on while resolving their communication problems with the outside world are few. Marshall Rose and David Strom attempt to remedy this in 293 pages. For the most part, they succeed.

The book is organized around 12 common user problems. These range from filtering mail to remote access. Each problem area is divided into four parts:

• Problems -- Describing the problem in real world terms and examples.
• Standards -- discussing what one of the many Internet messaging standards that can be used to resolve problems. Some of these are Extended SMTP (ESMTP), MIME, S/MIME, and LDAP
• Solutions -- Mentioning links, URLs, products and current messaging client capabilities to resolve these problems.
• Futures -- a brief thought on how this might be solved in the future.

The book's many strengths include:

• Providing real world answers using your current messaging client to resolve nagging problems.
• Some well-written explanations of advanced areas such as messaging security, VPN, message error reporting.
• Overview of Internet standards in a way that didnít resort to the terse language of the RFCs
• Organizing the book around user problems.
• The light forward by Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller.

Things that I would like to see improved:

• This book is better as a tutorial than a reference. Having icons in the margin to designate the various messaging clients and a more detailed table of contents would be helpful in finding things fast.
• Rather than having two (sometimes marginally related) problems in the same chapter seemed artificial. Break each problem into its own chapter.
• Some of the futures and solutions sections could be made stronger. I would like to see more about emerging Internet standards in various areas. Some solution areas such as attachments, spam mail, and directories do not provide enough ways to relieve user concerns.
• Some diagrams on how various things work (LDAP, IMAP, POP) could enhance user understanding .
• Having a CD or one web site with updates and links would be a plus.

Overall, I would recommend this book as an introduction on how Internet standards can aid in the resolution of messaging problems. It will be a good book for "3 A.M. problems and there is no one I can call." For users and first and second level help support professionals. I look forward to the next edition of this emerging classic.

Specific comments:

• Wanted to see a mention of uuencode on page 94.
• Wanted to see mention of MIME metaFAQ and RFC 1844 (MIME test suite) on page 265 (Attachment strategy).
• Wanted to see mention of CIP (directory as a catalog), SIEVE (Internet filters),MADMAN (messaging monitoring and capacity planning)
• Wanted to see a section on organization such as IMC, EMA
• Page 97 could use a diagram instead a text explanation.
• LDAP -- more on accessing other corporations, and intranet/extranet servers.
• Mention of directory MIB
• More on message tracking and MADMAN MIB.