New reads for the New Year, part 2

Here's another set of books to consider for those long winter nights. I've given each book a ranking - with four stars being the best.

Cisco Routers for the Desperate

By Michael Lucas

No Starch Press

$19.95

***

This book describes itself as "a brief, meaty introduction to Cisco routers" and it easily lives up to this idea. The book covers the basics of installing, configuring and managing a router from the unpacking the box stage to the log management stage. If you are a new network admin, or a systems person just exploring routers and their use, this is probably a great investment. The tongue in cheek writing style and excellent descriptions make it a generally good read.

Wireless Hacking

By Lee Barken, with Matt Fanady, Debi Jones, Alan Koebrick, and Michael Mee

Syngress

$39.95

**

There is some pretty cool stuff in this one. If you are interested in playing/experimenting with/exploiting wifi systems, this is a pretty great book. The exercises are well explained and documented with photographs. From plastic containers as weather shields to building "cantennas", there are tons of wireless hacks. That said, if you are looking for a book on wireless security and defining the processes and policies of managing wireless deployments, this is not the book you are looking for. But, if you want to load Linux on your Linksys wireless access point