This book takes a unique approach to the subject by covering the ideas underlying networks, the architecture of the network elements, and the implementation of these elements in optical and VLSI technologies. Additionally, it focuses on areas not widely covered in existing books: physical transport and switching, the process and technique of building networking hardware, and new technologies being deployed in the marketplace, such as Metro Wave Division Multiplexing (MWDM), Resilient Packet Rings (RPR), Optical Ethernet, and more.