With CIM LAN Switching, you can master the concepts and technologies to run and manage efficient campus networks. Offering self-paced instruction and practice, this robust learning tool gives you a quick and cost-effective way to acquire Cisco knowledge and expertise. From an overview of LAN switching, virtual LAN (VLAN) concepts, and Ethernet, ATM, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), and Token Ring technologies to the deployment of Cisco Catalyst® LAN switches, you’ll learn how to implement complete Cisco campus network solutions. Mastering techniques developed by Cisco Technical Assistance Center engineers, you’ll practice configuring and troubleshooting key LAN switching technologies, VLANs, trunk ports, route switch modules in conjunction with broadcast and multicast traffic, and ATM LAN emulation (LANE) protocols within a Catalyst LAN switch. CIM LAN Switching is an excellent preparation tool for the CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE exams.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Most engineers like to learn new systems by playing around with them to see what happens in response to various inputs. You can learn software that way easily enough, but systems that involve expensive hardware--internetworks that are based on Cisco routers, for example--aren't often available for engineers' playtime. A simulator that accurately mimics the behavior of real-life hardware and software systems can be almost as good as the real thing, however, and that's what Cisco Systems has provided in the Cisco Interactive Mentor (or CIM) line of multimedia CD-ROMs. At the core of the CIM self-education environment, you'll find a simulation of the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) as it appears on Cisco routers. The simulator allows you to do all of the configuration (and misconfiguration) that you like, and faithfully reacts as a real-life network would. It even allows you to perform troubleshooting.
Cisco Interactive Mentor: LAN Switching applies the CIM formula to local area network (LAN) switching, as performed by the Cisco Catalyst 5000. The software presents information about switching topics as neatly illustrated text documents (that you can hear read aloud). More importantly, it presents you with a series of LAN-switching laboratory problems, and allows you to solve them on the IOS simulator. You can work freehand from diagrams that show you what your configurations are supposed to do, or scroll through (or listen to) instructions that tell you the commands to issue. The effect is quite convincing. No simulator is perfect, and this one is flawed by restricting you to commands that are relevant to the problem at hand. It would be better if it allowed you a complete set of tools with which to foul up. But what's here is great, and this multimedia training kit should help Cisco trainees learn about their platforms during time away from live systems and training labs. --David Wall
Topics covered: Data-switching fundamentals, plus the specifics (with exercises) of configuring ports, virtual local area networks (VLANs), trunks, the Route Switch Module (RSM), multicasting with Cisco Group Management Protocol (CGMP), token ring, FDDI, and ATM LAN emulation (LANE). There's troubleshooting on the simulator, too.
From the Publisher
Test-drive the Cisco Interactive Mentor network simulators with three free browser-based demos available from the Cisco Press Web site. With audio/video components, animation, tutorials, quizzes, reference material, configuration labs, and troubleshooting labs, the CIM products are the only comprehensive network simulators available from Amazon.com.
The Cisco Interactive Mentor products do not require you to spend more money on another book in order for you to use them. These are true stand-alone products; all the reference material you need to complete the labs and acquire the knowledge is fully contained within the CIMs. Just search for "Cisco Interactive Mentor" to find all six CIM products here on Amazon.com.
Whether you are preparing for a Cisco certification or just need to get some network experience, turn your desktop into a training lab with CIMs. Visit the Cisco Press Web site for more information on Cisco Interactive Mentor.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Switching Prep...,
By A Customer
This review is from: CIM LAN Switching (Network Simulator CD-ROM) (CD-ROM)
This is a great way to reinforce all that you have learned from the Cisco courseware. I went through the coursware, read the Sybex book and read the Exam Cram by Richard Deal - which is absolutley brilliant BTW - then used this to cover the holes left by SwitchSim.In hindsight i probably covered way too much material - i would do it this way: Cisco Coursware OR Sybex, Exam Cram, and the Interactive Mentor.... I can understand some peoples disappointment - but it isn't a simulated networking environment as such - it just shows you how to configure a Cat switch and why...and it does this very well. Not only that but where else are you going to be able to get hands on configuring ATM modules and a LightStream ATM Switch??? Pricey i know - but still very handy come CCIE-time.....
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's an "Interactive Mentor",
By Belle S. (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: CIM LAN Switching (Network Simulator CD-ROM) (CD-ROM)
I was quite surprised by the majority of reviews panning this product. I've previously gone through almost all of the 1.0 product and thought it was so worthwhile, I purchased the 2.0 version for myself for home use.I took the official CIT course never having worked with a Catalyst 5000 series switch. Even though it had been several months since I used LAN Switching 1.0, I had NO PROBLEMS configuring and troubleshooting the CAT 5000 switches while on course. I breezed through the labs while others struggled--some of whom worked with the CATs as part of their day-to-day job responsibilities. It's a good product if you want to learn how to configure Cisco switches, and about switching in general. Perhaps one reason why people have been disappointed in this product is because they thought it could be used as a single-source of study for the CCNP LAN Switching exam. The LAN Switching CIM doesn't claim to provide all the knowledge required to pass that exam--it's not part of the CCNP study series. Perhaps another reason why people have been disappointed in this product is because they didn't understand that the Cisco LAN Switching CIM wasn't intended to be a full-featured "routersim" type product. This product, billed as an "interactive mentor" was designed to simulate a learning environment where a "virtual instructor" leading a student through a series of controlled tutorials and configuration exercises designed to hone LAN switching skills. It presents controlled challenge and configuration labs in very much the same type of manner that labs would be provided from an educational institution (college, authorized training center, etc.). Although each lab provides access to different subsets of Catalyst commands, I personally didn't find the product limiting in its usefulness--my intent for the product was to gain simulated hands-on experience configuring Cisco Catalyst switches. I thought it did a fantastic job... DISCLAIMER: The only reason I gave the product 4 stars instead of 5 is because I found 1.0 a bit buggy. I haven't had a chance to go through all the labs in 2.0 to see if the same problems exist...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent material for the CCNA/CCNP/CCIE student,
By Ben "Love Air" (Great Britain) - See all my reviews
This review is from: CIM LAN Switching (Network Simulator CD-ROM) (CD-ROM)
I think it's well worth the money. There are ten modules, each with all the key information broken down into manageable chunks, and at the end of each module there is a lab narrated by a woman who talks you through the steps. The CIM-SE (simulation environment) is limited to the commands necessary for the lab, so you have to be word perfect when typing the commands out.It's definitely good for CCNP, and if you can't get time on your own or someone elses Catalyst then this is the next best thing. If you can absorb the content of this CIM then you will probably have all you need for switching side of the CCIE lab exam.
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