Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook (Kindle Edition)

by David Hucaby (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This is the eBook version of the printed book. If the print book includes a CD-ROM, this content is not included within the eBook version.

• Learn about the various firewall models, user interfaces, feature sets, and configuration methods
• Understand how a Cisco firewall inspects traffic
• Configure firewall interfaces, routing, IP addressing services, and IP multicast support
• Maintain security contexts and flash and configuration files, manage users, and monitor firewalls with SNMP
• Authenticate, authorize, and maintain accounting records for firewall users
• Control access through the firewall by implementing transparent and routed firewall modes, address translation, and traffic shunning
• Define security policies that identify and act on various types of traffic with the Modular Policy Framework
• Increase firewall availability with firewall failover operation
• Understand how firewall load balancing works
• Generate firewall activity logs and learn how to analyze the contents of the log
• Verify firewall operation and connectivity and observe data passing through a firewall
• Configure Security Services Modules, such as the Content Security Control (CSC) module and the Advanced Inspection Processor (AIP) module

Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook, Second Edition, is a guide for the most commonly implemented features of the popular Cisco- firewall security solutions. Fully updated to cover the latest firewall releases, this book helps you to quickly and easily configure, integrate, and manage the entire suite of Cisco firewall products, including ASA, PIX-, and the Catalyst- Firewall Services Module (FWSM).

Organized by families of features, this book helps you get up to speed quickly and efficiently on topics such as file management, building connectivity, controlling access, firewall management, increasing availability with failover, load balancing, logging, and verifying operation.

Sections are marked by shaded tabs for quick reference, and information on each feature is presented in a concise format, with background, configuration, and example components.

Whether you are looking for an introduction to the latest ASA, PIX, and FWSM devices or a complete reference for making the most out of your Cisco firewall deployments, Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook, Second Edition, helps you achieve maximum protection of your network resources.

About the Author

David Hucaby, CCIE No. 4594, is a lead network engineer for the University of Kentucky, where he works with health-care networks based on the Cisco Catalyst, ASA, FWSM, and VPN product lines. He was one of the beta reviewers of the ASA 8.0 operating system software. He has a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky. He is the author of three other books from Cisco Press: CCNP BCMSN Official Exam Certification Guide, Cisco Field Manual: Router Configuration, and Cisco Field Manual: Catalyst Switch Configuration.

 

He lives in Kentucky with his wife, Marci, and two daughters.

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 15669 KB
• Print Length: 912 pages
• Publisher: Cisco Press; 2 edition (August 9, 2007)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0014YHKU4
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,960 in Kindle Store (See Bestsellers in Kindle Store)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Security & Encryption > Firewalls
  #42 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Networking > Networks, Protocols & APIs > Bridges & Routers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars surveys Cisco's offerings, February 10, 2008

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook (2nd Edition) (Networking Technology: Security) (Paperback)

For the sysadmin of a Cisco firewall product, this book is an up to date survey of what Cisco offers in this arena. The book has a quick going over of the theory behind most firewalls. But the bulk of the text looks at the various product lines and how you can install and, more importantly, easily manage them on an ongoing basis.

The screen captures are helpful. Showing that Cisco has put some thought into the usability of their boxes.

I won't say the book makes for enthralling reading. It is perhaps best suited as a reference manual. Where the only sections you need are for your firewall model.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference manual covering most day to day admin tasks for the PIX and ASA, April 24, 2008

By	Michael L. Cooter "Netwerkdude" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook (2nd Edition) (Networking Technology: Security) (Paperback)

Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook
Second Edition
Author : David Hucaby
Publisher: Cisco Press
Reviewed by: Michael Cooter

Pros: Thorough, comprehensive, and in-depth
Cons: Not for ASA/PIX Novices, more suited for Firewall admins with solid experience. More of a reference than a book you would read cover to cover.

Chapter List: Chapter 1, "Firewall Overview", Chapter 2 "Configuration Fundamentals" Chapter 3 "Building Connectivity", Chapter 4 "Firewall Management", Chapter 5 "Managing Firewall Users", Chapter 6 "Controlling Access Through the Firewall", Chapter 7 "Inspecting Traffic", Chapter 8 "Increasing Firewall Availability with Failover, Chapter 9 "Firewall Load Balancing", Chapter 10 "Firewall Logging", Chapter 11 "Verifying Firewall Operation", Chapter 12 "ASA Modules", Appendix A, "Well-Known Protocol and Port Numbers, Appendix B "Security Applicance Logging Messages"

Book Review:

Cisco ASA, PIX and FWSM Firewall Handbook is a comprehensive and up-to-date reference manual that belongs on the shelf of anybody who manages a Cisco Firewall device. At nearly 870 pages, this is not a small book that you would want read cover to cover, but instead an excellent reference that you would use to learn more about a specific topic of ASA and PIX administration.

I am familiar with the author, David Hucaby from reading his CCNP Switching book, written in 2000. Hucaby has a very clear and insightful writing style and has the ability to take complex topics and break them down to a more understandable level for novices.

Chapters of interest to me were on Firewall Load Balancing , Traffic Inspection, also the on Failover.


Summary:

I highly recommend this book for any administrator who is responsible for an ASA or PIX. This book is not an great introduction to the topic, but would be better suited as a companion to "Securing Your Business with Cisco ASA and PIX Firewalls" by Greg Alebar.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book but doesn't cover VPN, April 9, 2009

By	Edward Huang - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook (2nd Edition) (Networking Technology: Security) (Paperback)

Great ASA book, updated for version 8, covers PIX too and helped for exam study. Does not cover anything on VPN! (IPsec or Web) which is one of the major purposes for the ASA - users travelling, work at home, vendor access. Omar Santos' book covers VPN although it is for older version 7. Would have given 5 stars if not for the VPN omission. Edward Huang CCSP/CCDA