System network architecture (SNA) is the complete description of the logical structures, formats, protocols, and sequences of operations used to transmit information units through a communications system. This book describes the foundations of SNA together with the protocols, with a concentration on mainframe-oriented networks.…(From the introduction)

This book, much more an SNA handbook than a fundamental textbook, does not meet its stated goal of providing the philosophy of SNA and the underlying conceptual basis for this communications architecture. SNA is a trademarked network concept developed by IBM more than 20 years ago as a basis for communications between IBM computer systems. While it is no longer restricted to mainframe IBM products, and over the years it has been accepted by other computer manufacturers that attempt to emulate IBM systems, SNA is rapidly losing ground to the Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model and its associated standardized protocols and implementations from various manufacturers. Also, mainframe-style computer systems incorporating SNA are rapidly being replaced by distributed systems of smaller computers, which tend to use OSI-based communications.

Even as an SNA handbook, I cannot recommend this text. It provides little more than a detailed description of IBM-oriented SNA protocols and conventions. A bibliography lists 57 references to IBM technical manuals for SNA users, many of which seem to be more appropriate resources for the interested reader. The student who wants to understand the underlying philosophy and implementation issues related to SNA would be better served by several available textbooks, such as Cypser [1] or Martin [2]. This technical handbook is of marginal value to either the student or the practitioner interested in SNA communication networks.