Cisco
GNS3 is a great way to practice your Cisco labs
If you haven’t heard of GNS3 as way to practice your Cisco commands, let me take this opportunity to share a gem of knowledge with you. Also, if you are completely new to GNS3, this is a perfect time to … Continue Reading
Changes to the ICND1 Curriculum from Cisco! Etherchannel Port Aggregation
As I promised last time, I will be providing more updates regarding the differences between the previous CCNA track and the new CCNA Routing and Switching track announced by Cisco on March 26th. One of the major differences is that … Continue Reading
The Cisco admin guide to remembering OSPF details
If you have read my previous blogs, you know that I am a big fan of memory aids. Since the human brain is typically not gifted at simply storing vast amounts of information, I want to give myself, and you … Continue Reading
Reload – A Cisco command which can save the day, and money!
I often state that a real Cisco network admin is able to manage the entire domain from the comfort and convenience of the living room. In other words all the devices that need to be managed can be reached from … Continue Reading
Exploits Against Legacy Encryption – A Conversation with Cisco
You should already realize that you cannot just change your standard encryption algorithms and key lengths on a moment’s notice. Those are decisions that you made after careful research and testing. So while you might have some cryptography in place … Continue Reading
Cisco Announces a Whole New CCNA course and Curriculum!
Big changes are afoot. Or at hand. However you choose to look at it, be prepared for big changes to the Cisco CCNA program. If you already have your CCNA certification, don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything else.(That … Continue Reading
Deciphering Layer 2 devices and the ARP process
So you are troubleshooting the network and PING from one device to another. A reply is received. Great! Connectivity has been restored. But what happened behind the scenes? As long as the two devices are on the same network or subnet, the proof of … Continue Reading
How Cisco network gurus can fine-tune Wireshark output
If you are a fan of Wireshark, you will enjoy the little tidbits I am going to share today. I have a sample network constructed inside GNS3, which I’m sure many of you already use. If not, may I take this moment … Continue Reading
How to configure OSPF authentication on Cisco routers
Perhaps you have heard that it is a good idea for your routers to verify the sources of routing update information. Much like when you call your bank and you ask them for your current balance, they want to know … Continue Reading
How to redistribute routes using Cisco route maps and IP prefix lists
In previous blogs I have covered both ip prefix lists and route maps How to interpret Cisco IP prefix lists and How to Decipher Cisco Route Maps. Now I want to take some of what has been discussed and make a … Continue Reading
Cisco does something “Meraki-lous”
As you may have heard by now, Cisco has acquired Meraki – a company with wide appeal to non-enterprise-sized companies. The main reason Meraki appeals to smaller companies is that its Wi-Fi product line allows companies to deploy and expand wireless … Continue Reading
How to Decipher Cisco Route Maps
In my last blog How to interpret Cisco IP prefix lists, I mentioned that I would discuss using prefix lists to filter routes. Before we can go there, there is another piece of the puzzle which must be addressed. That … Continue Reading
How to interpret Cisco IP prefix lists
IP prefix lists. Why? At first glance, it may seem that this is just another way to add more math and numbers to the life of a net admin. Don’t be fooled by the first glance. Once you get used to IP prefix … Continue Reading
CISCO Aspire – A fun CCNA Certification Game and Study Guide
Greetings to all who are reaching for a CCNA certification, there is a study aid available on the Cisco website for those with a Cisco (free) login. It’s called Cisco Aspire CCNA Edition. Here is an introductory video: You can … Continue Reading
Cisco EIGRP authentication – what is the key?
How many times have you heard that two potential EIGRP neighbors with md5 authentication configured will neighbor up even if they are not using the same key in their key chains? Several Cisco texts have made this comment. I decided … Continue Reading
More Cisco CCNA Certification Study Tips and Aids
As you may know if you read my blogs or have been in my classes, I am a big believer in memory aids, or mnemonics. I have a previous blog; Cisco certification exam memory aids – My favorite mnemonics which … Continue Reading
Cool Cisco Certification exam Debug Tricks – Syslog & AS Number
If you are studying for a Cisco certification exam, odds are that you work in lab-type situations frequently. Maybe you use GNS3 or even one of the Virtual Lab solutions offered on the Cisco website. If that is the case, … Continue Reading
Cisco’s EIGRP metric – fact and not so fact
As a quick reminder from my previous blog post, let’s take a look at the full Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) metric formula: The EIGRP fomula simplifies (using default k-values) to: 256(min bandwidth + cumulative delay) To determine min … Continue Reading
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) has been around the block
Last time we were introduced to the basics of the Spanning Tree Protocol, the loop prevention mechanism that has been with us since 1985. STP results in a network where some ports are transmitting frames and some are blocked (hence the … Continue Reading
Cisco EIGRP metric calculation simplified– the eyes have it!
There are numerous sources online which discuss Cisco’s Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) metric formula and its computation. My goal today is to present the formula in a way that is more pleasing to the eye so it is … Continue Reading
