Customer Reviews

Cisco Field Manual: Router Configuration

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Cisco Field Manual: Router Configuration" by Hucaby and McQuerry - you figure with a title like that you would have your one-stop shop for configurations of Cisco routers. Sadly, you will be going to the Cisco website before too long for more advanced configuration examples and explanations. While the book does do an excellent job at introducing a variety of functions - (CDP <a Net Admin's best friend.>, logging, SAA), and interfaces; after these areas the book starts to lose it's value.

For example - the chapter on routing protocols starting on page 253 is extremely introductory (yes, only one chapter on a book of routers, which, the last time I looked routes based upon ROUTING protocols). The EIGRP discussion does not mention that the netmask can be applied to the end of the network command - yet the book discusses `variance' and how to apply metric weights (now which command(s) do you think a Net Admin will apply more often?).

And then you much watch out for the typos. For example - on page 367, you would be stuck if you applied the command `priority-group 2' when you just finished configuring custom-queues.

Overall, I was hoping to have a book I could stick in my laptop bag and use as an instant-reference if I was stuck for a configuration. If I was using this book, I believe I would still be searching for that answer.

I give this book 3 pings out of 5:
!!..!

This is a truly practical book. It features material most often configured on Cisco routers and gives the reader a step-by-step description of how to implement it. This is not a book for people seeking to learn networking, or the theory behind protocols and IOS features. It is just as the title says, a manual with "no nonsense" how-to's. A good quick reference when you don't have the Cisco documentation CD and need to implement something fast.

Working with routers means be able to configure them and as everyone knows there are far too many commands to remember and also far too many switches with the commands. Cisco Press has put together a book that should be on every router technician's desk.

The authors have put together a straight to the point - no nonsense 650 page reference manual that has over 90 real world examples to learn from and use in the every day work. By starting the book with interface basics the authors are making no assumptions as to the skill level of the technician, this making this book useful for everyone.

After that you learn to setup dialing options, work with layer 2 switching, including bridging, SRB and RSRB techniques. Moving on then comes IP addressing and services like HSRP, DHCP and NAT. Then onto the routing protocols with RIP and RIP2, IGRP, EIRGP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP and MBGP.

Other protocols discussed and covered include IPX and AppleTalk. The authors make sure the cover the QOS topics of VPN, BGP, CAR and GTS with examples broken down to make the concepts easier to follow.

After that there are voice and telephony examples. Since this book is tailored to the router technician I am already make good use of the book.

I had the pleasure of being one of the technical editors for this book. It was my eleventh book edited. I've long since lost count of the number of technical books I've readm but this book stands out from among the others as one of the best I've ever seen.

It has a simple-sounding objective: to show how to do particular tasks. It came from the CCIE lab study notes of the authors. As such, it does not promise to explain theory or design. It just shows how to do something.

Want to configure "X"? Turn to the page and see the steps. It doesn't matter if "X" is dynamic access lists, NAT, DHCP, Frame Relay, DDR, HSRP or scores of other things - this book is the best "how-to" source I've ever come across.

If you are studying for a Cisco cert or just want a reference manual to help you through unfamiliar tasks at work, this is one of the must have books. I use it in my every day work and in my teaching. You will, too.

This is one of the more [dare I say "most"] USEFUL Cisco Press books. It mainly consist of the actually useful commands one would use in everyday work. Take a look at the TOC to see the WIDE variety of areas covered. [in my opinion:] Finally, must-buy from Cisco Press!

The authors did a great job of presenting the relatively basic information on configuring Cisco routers. You will find quite a few useful IOS commands discussed in the book that will want to keep it as a handy reference. I would also suggest looking into getting "Cisco IOS for IP Routing" by Andrew Colton. That book would take you deeper into mechanics of modern routing protocols (EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP), along with a discussion of Cisco IOS commands.

it doesn't explain it well. I can also use TAB and ? keys in the keyboard when I'm inside Cisco Router, better than using this book. What lacks here are sample configuration in a given situation or scenario, and more explanation of the commands and command options. What this book did was give the command and command options.

"Cisco Routers for IP Routing Little Black Book" by Innokenty Rudenko is still the best handbook, combine it with "Cisco Field Manual: Catalyst Switch Configuration" by Dave Hucaby, Stephen McQuerry, David Hucaby, and "Remote Access for Cisco Network" by Bill Burton, William Burton you are ready for the real-world task of configuring and troubleshooting Cisco Routers and Catalyst Switches.