Cisco^® Networking:
A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction

Introduction and Overview

Internetworking fundamentals

• Internetworking terminology
• Protocol layering
• Routing vs. bridging

Cisco hardware/software architecture

• Distribution and core routers
• Internetwork Operating System (IOS) versions and licensing
• Addressing Cisco security vulnerabilities

Setting Up the Router

Accessing and controlling routers

• Console and AUX ports
• Remote and TFTP configuration

The Cisco bootstrap sequence

• Setting the configuration register
• Using the start-up configuration dialogue

Creating configuration files

• Selecting a configuration mode: global, interface, router, line
• IOS editing and help features

Implementing IP Routing

Initiating the basic IP configuration

• Assigning IP addresses and subnet masks
• Implementing access lists for enhanced security

The IP routing process

• Selecting a routing protocol
• Monitoring and maintaining routing tables
• Configuring RIP V1, RIP V2, EIGRP, OSPF

IP Routing Protocols

Review of routing concepts

• Distance Vector and Link State routing
• Evaluating routing metrics
• Configuring Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
• Differentiating between RIP V1 and V2
• Tailoring RIP V2 address summarisation and authentication
• Cisco Enhanced Interior Gateway Protocol (EIGRP)
• Transitioning to an OSPF single area network topology

Routing interaction issues

• Implementing static routes
• Route redistribution

Configuring Interface Parameters

Local area networks

• Ethernet
• Port speed
• Duplex settings

Wide area networks

• Leased lines
• ISDN
• Frame relay
• ATM
• Setting up ISDN dial-on-demand and dial backup

Troubleshooting Cisco Routers

Maintaining router operations

• Analysing interface problems
• Finding and resolving IP routing errors with extended ping and trace
• Fixing misconfigurations
• Leveraging ICMP and Cisco debug commands
• Validating Layer 2 connectivity with Cisco Discovery Protocol

Cisco Information Online

• Exploiting the Cisco documentation
• Contacting the Technical Assistance Center (TAC)

Applying Cisco Switches for LAN Connectivity

Switch theory of operation

• Preventing loops using Spanning Tree
• Controlling root switch selection

Working with VLANs

• Executing VLAN configuration
• Managing VLAN trunk lines
• ISL and 802.1Q trunks
• Routing between VLANs

Maintaining and Upgrading Cisco Routers

Planning software upgrades

• Selecting and testing the new IOS release
• Loading the new IOS images
• Recovering a corrupt IOS from the ROMMON prompt

Installing hardware upgrades

• Planning a hardware maintenance strategy
• Replacing boot ROMs
• Adding RAM and flash memory

Administering routers

• Securing router access
• Defining local access strings
• Harnessing TACACS+ to authenticate and monitor users
• Recovering lost passwords
• Backing up config files and router images

SNMP and management tools

• Exploiting Cisco's proprietary MIB
• Analysing router performance