In his Preface, John Drummond Montgomery says: "Rock Solid Ethernet is actually a great read. Intuitively, a textbook on Ethernet should not be a great read and I pondered this seeming anomaly for the five days it took me to read this book. One reason Rock Solid Ethernet is a great read is precisely because it is not a 'textbook on Ethernet', it is the 'Bible on Ethernet', written in the form of a discussion between colleages about really interesting and relevant concepts concerning the place and use of Ethernet in the entertainment and industrial setting." The book is intended for all those involved in the use of Ethernet in a harsh environment, and the bulk of it is aimed at Entertainment Technology – one of the harshest environments available. It will be useful for both the experienced network engineer and the DMX512 tech making a first exploration into networks, and it is intended to address this new subject at a number of levels. It is relevant to end users and system specifiers, system installers, manufacturers and developers, and has been organized in such as way that each group of users has a specific chapter but can dip into other sections for additional reference. Wayne Howell studied physics at Birmingham University, specializing in nuclear structure. It was there that he discovered a passion for the industry; working with live sound, show lighting and a TV studio. It was an exciting time, offering opportunities such as lighting new bands as UB40. Having gained a degree, he then freelanced with companies such as LSD, gaining experience in the rock & roll world. He then joined Avolites as a wireman and the next five years saw a progression from wireman to production manager to service manager and then to product design. In 1988 he started Artistic Licence as a projects design house. Success came quickly, with end clients ranging from Pink Floyd to The Rolling Stones, and from this early project work a product range evolved. The company is now considered a leader in many technology areas, not least the use of Ethernet in Entertainment Technology, and is an active participant in the ESTA DMX512-A, RDM and ACN programmes.