Cisco A Beginner's Guide, Fifth Edition

Cisco networking essentials—made easy!

Get a solid foundation in Cisco products and technologies from this fully updated bestseller. Covering the latest solutions, Cisco: A Beginner’s Guide, Fifth Edition shows you, step-by-step, how to design, build, and manage custom networks. Learn how to configure hardware, use IOS commands, set up wireless networks, and secure your systems. You’ll also get tips on preparing for Cisco certification exams. Brand-new voice and social networking features, Cisco TelePresence, the cloud-based Cisco Unified Computing System, and more are fully covered in this practical resource.

• Understand Cisco networking and Internet basics
• Connect and configure routers and switches
• Work with TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet technologies
• Maintain your network through IOS and IOS XR
• Handle security using firewalls, Adaptive Security Appliances, SecureX, TrustSec, and other tools
• Virtualize hardware and migrate resources to a private cloud
• Manage wireless networks with Aironet and Airespace
• Deliver VoIP, video, and social networking services
• Design, administer, and tune a Cisco enterprise network
• Identify and repair performance issues and bottlenecks

Introduction
Who Should Read This Book
What This Book Covers
How to Read This Book
Part I: Cisco Overview
Chapter 1: Cisco and the Internet
Internetworking
Cisco’s Position in the Computer Industry
The Internet Landscape
Internetworking’s Five Major Device Types
Basic Internetwork Topologies
Internetwork Players
Internetworking Protocols
Routing vs. Switching
Other Internetworking Trends
Cisco’s Offerings
Competition
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Cisco Solutions
Cisco Innovation
Chapter 2: Networking Primer
Bits and Bytes
How Computers Understand Data
OSI Reference Model
The Seven-Layer Stack
OSI Implementation by Layer
Network Technologies
Ethernet
Gigabit, 10 Gigabit, 40 Gigabit, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless
WAN Technologies
Dial-in Technologies
WAN Trunk Technologies
TCP/IP
TCP/IP Messaging
The Transport Layer
IP Addressing
The IP Address Format
IP Address Classes
Private Addressing
Subnetting
IP Version 6
Putting It All Together
Chapter 3: Cisco Certifications
Certifications Overview
Career Certifications and Paths
Entry Level
Associate
Professional
Expert
Architect
Specialist
Certification Tracks
Routing and Switching
Design
Network Security
Wireless
Voice
Service Provider
Service Provider Operations
Technician Certifications
CCT Routing & Switching
CCT Data Center
CCT TelePresence
Specialist Certifications
Collaboration Certifications
Data Center Certifications
Operating System Software (Cisco IOS XR Specialist)
Security Certifications
Video Certifications
Where to Get Help
Websites
Classes
Part II: Cisco Internetworking Tools
Chapter 4: Routing Overview
How Routers Work
Routing for Efficiency
Routers and the Internet
Optical Routers
IOS: The Internetwork Operating System
Router Security
Router Administrative Security
Router Network Security
Router Passwords
Chapter 5: Routing Platforms
Router Hardware
Router Memory
Router Ports and Modules
Cisco Router Models
Essential Files
Communicating with IOS
Meet IOS 12.4T (A.K.A. the “OLD” IOS)
IP Mobility
Meet IOS Release 15 (A.K.A. the “New” IOS)
Meet NX-OS
Meet IOS XR
Using IOS Commands
Overview of Router Modes
The Configuration File’s Central Role
Chapter 6: Configuring Routing
Communicating with a Router
The Console Port
The Auxiliary Port
SSH/Telnet
The HTTP Server User Interface
Essential Router Commands
Password Recovery
Recovering Enable Passwords
Recovering Passwords from Older Cisco Routers
Step-by-Step Router Configuration
Setup Mode
Giving a Router an Identity
Examining Device Status
Cisco Discovery Protocol
Changes in IOS from Release 12.4 to Release 15
Using Applications to Help Configure Routers
Cisco Configuration Professional
What’s Next
Chapter 7: Switches
Network Topologies
The Importance of Network Domains
Cabling Defines Network Speed and Distance
Cisco Switches
How an Individual Switch Works
Switched Networking Basics
Designing Switched Internetworks
VLANs
SmartOperations
Cisco’s Switched Network Products
Configuring and Managing Cisco Switches
Cisco Network Assistant
Features
Installation
Views
Interaction
Communities
Using CNA
Chapter 8: Security Overview
Overview of Network Security
Traffic-Based Security
User-Based Security
Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
Overview of the AAA Model
How AAA Works
Dynamic Access Lists
Lock-and-Key Using a Local User Database
Best Practices
Reviewing Logs
Securing Protocols
Physical Security
Keep Current on Your Devices
Chapter 9: Access Control
Cisco SecureX Architecture
Overview
Cisco SecureX Framework
Identity Management
Cisco TrustSec
Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS)
Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC)
Identity Services Engine (ISE)
The Access Lists
Network Address Translation
Virtual Private Networks
What Composes a VPN?
Cisco’s Solution
Digging a Tunnel
Summary
Chapter 10: Security Appliances
Firewalls
Firewall Basics
How Firewalls Work
The IOS Firewall Feature Set
ASA Firewall OS’s Adaptive Security Algorithm
ASA OS 9
Adaptive Security Appliances
Access Routers
Overview
Models
Cisco Cloud Web Security
How Cisco Cloud Web Security Works
Example of Cisco Cloud Web Security
Cisco Security Manager
Integrated Services Router
The Right Tool for the Right Job
Models
Specialized Modules
Firewall Services Module and ASA Service Modules
Cisco Wireless Service Module (WiSM2)
Intrusion Prevention System
Summary
Chapter 11: Cisco Unified Wireless
Introduction to Wireless Networking
The Roots of Wireless Networking
Benefits
WLANs
How They Work
Architecture
Technologies
Cisco Wireless Networking
Philosophy
Cisco’s Offerings
Access Point Configuration
Site Survey
AP Placement
Interference
Initial Autonomous AP Settings
Security
Antenna Placement
Summary
Part III: Cisco Business Solutions
Chapter 12: Cisco VoIP
VoIP
Introduction to VoIP
Building VoIP Networks
H.323
SIP
SCCP
Implementation
Cisco Unified Communications
Cisco Unified Communications Manager
Cisco Business Edition
IP Phones
Cisco Unified Communications Gateways
TelePresence
Collaborations
Summary
Chapter 13: Data Center and Virtualization
Storage Area Networks
Storage Needs
Fibre Channel
Other SAN Protocols
Designing and Building a SAN
Cisco MDS Switches and Directors
Technologies
Hardware
Software
Private Cloud
Cisco Unified Computing System
Cisco Intelligent Automation for Cloud
Chapter 14: Cisco Content Networking and Video Solutions
Content Delivery Networks
Meet the CDN
Cisco’s Solution
ACNS
Wide Area Application Engine
Cisco Wide Area File System
Caching
Web Cache Communication Protocol
Freshness
Content Engine Caching
Video
Video Entertainment
Video Collaboration
Video Intelligence
Part IV: Designing Cisco Networks
Chapter 15: Routing Protocols
Overview of Routing Protocols
Routing Protocol Basics
Routing Protocol Architectures
How Routing Protocols Are Implemented
Overview of Cisco Routing Protocols
Cisco’s Interior Gateway Routing Protocol
Configuring RIP 2
Configuring Open Shortest Path First
Border Gateway Protocol
Multiprotocol Label Switching
Cisco’s Routing Protocol Strategy
Chapter 16: Network Management
Overview of Network Management
The Evolution of Management Tools
Network Management Tools Today
Trends in Enterprise System Management
SNMP Is IP’s Common Management Platform
What Is SNMP?
SNMP Polling and Managed Objects
The MIB
Polling Groups and Data Aggregation
SNMP Commands
Thresholds
Events and Traps
RMON: Hardware Probes for Switched Networks
NetFlow: Software Traffic Flow-Recording
Cisco’s SNMP and RMON Implementations
Cisco Prime Infrastructure
Cisco Network Assistant
Features
Installation
Views
Interaction
Communities
Using CNA
Summary
Chapter 17: Network Design Process
Internetwork Design Basics
Internetworking Basics Reviewed
The Three-Layer Hierarchical Design Model
Design Methods
Designing to Fit Needs
Understanding Existing Internetworks
Characterizing Networks
Cisco Network Designs
Logical Network Design
Campus Network Designs
Chapter 18: Troubleshooting Cisco Networks
The Mechanics of Network Troubleshooting
Network Troubleshooting Methods
Troubleshooting Host IP Configuration
Isolating Connectivity Problems
Troubleshooting WAN Links
Client-Server VPNs
Troubleshooting Cisco Hardware
Inspecting Devices
The Reboot Test
Troubleshooting Network Configurations
Wireless Networks
Troubleshooting Network Performance
Index