Cisco routers and switches are the cornerstones of many networks. But when things break, repairs can intimidate even the most competent administrator. Luckily, just knowing the "in case of emergency" basics will take you far.
Just like the original, this second edition of the highly acclaimed Cisco Routers for the Desperate is written for the administrator in crisis mode. Updated to cover switches and the latest Cisco terminology, with a tighter focus on the needs of the small network administrator, this second edition gives you what you need to know to provide reliable network services and fix problems fast. You'll find coverage of:
Installation—how to get your router and network connections up and running right the first time
Troubleshooting routers and switches, so that you can determine whether your hardware or the Internet is broken
Security concerns, like how to keep your network equipment safe from hackers and install a private network between two offices
How to implement basic network redundancy to reduce the risk of network downtime
Cisco Routers for the Desperate, 2nd Edition is designed to be read once and left alone until something breaks. When it does, you'll have everything you need to know in one easy-to-follow guidebook.
Chapter 1 Befriending the Command Line
EXEC versus Privileged EXEC Mode
Integrated Help
Command Abbreviation
Chapter 2 Router Configuration
Running versus Startup
Reading a Configuration
Chapter 3 Router Interfaces
Got Interface?
Common Interface Characteristics
Configuring Interfaces
Ethernet Interfaces
Serial Interfaces
Other Interfaces
Chapter 4 Wide Area Network Connections
Internet Connections
Private Connections
Private Circuit Configuration
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting Routers
Router Crashes
Network Failure
Extended Pings and Circuit Troubleshooting
Phoning the ISP
Chapter 6 IOS Changes
Cisco Security Notifications
Upgrade Preparations
Performing the Upgrade
Chapter 7 Redundancy with BGP and HSRP
BGP Basics
BGP Preparations
Configuring BGP
Managing BGP
Propagation of BGP Updates
Hot Standby Router Protocol
Chapter 8 Cisco Switches
CatOS, IOS, and Hybrid Mode
Spanning Tree
Configuring Switch Interfaces
Cisco Discovery Protocol
Viewing ARP Caches and Finding Hosts
Chapter 9 Logins, Authentication, and Remote Access