Designing distributed computing systems is a complex process requiring a solid understanding of the design problems and the theoretical and practical aspects of their solutions. This comprehensive textbook covers the fundamental principles and models underlying the theory, algorithms and systems aspects of distributed computing. Broad and detailed coverage of the theory is balanced with practical systems-related issues such as mutual exclusion, deadlock detection, authentication, and failure recovery. Algorithms are carefully selected, lucidly presented, and described without complex proofs. Simple explanations and illustrations are used to elucidate the algorithms. Important emerging topics such as peer-to-peer networks and network security are also considered. With vital algorithms, numerous illustrations, examples and homework problems, this textbook is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of electrical and computer engineering and computer science. Practitioners in data networking and sensor networks will also find this a valuable resource. Additional resources are available online at www.cambridge.org/9780521876346.

Ajay D．Kshemkalyani，伊利诺伊大学计算机科学系副教授。1 991年获俄亥俄州立大学计算机与信息科学博士学位，1999年获得美国国家科学基金会的CAREER奖。IEEE高级会员。研究领域包括分布式计算、算法、计算机网络和并行系统。现任Computer Networks编辑委员会委员。

Mukesh Singhal，肯塔基大学计算机科学系教授，Gartner Group Endowed主席。1986年获马里兰大学计算机科学博士学位。IEEE Fellow，于2003年获IEEE技术成就奖。 现任IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems及IEEE Transactions on Computers编辑委员会委员。研究领域包括分布式系统、计算机网络、无线及移动计算系统、性能评价和计算机安全等。