Customer Reviews

Cisco Router Configuration Handbook (2nd Edition) (Networking Technology)

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I bought this book with the hopes that it would cover the latest versions of Cisco IOS and the latest generation of the ISR / ISRG2 routers (2900 and 3900).

Well, I can't say how disappointed I am in my initial review of the book. I am a voice engineer and the UC section and the initial hardware overview section have not been updated which makes me concerned to rely on other sections of the book since I have to assume other sections haven't been updated since the first edition as well.

The initial hardware chapter still references hardware file system limitations for the 1003,1004,1005,1600,1700,2500,2600,3600,4000,as5200, and mc3810. It doesn't even make a mention of ISR 2800/3800/2900/3900 routers. There are many changes with the latest generation ISRG2's such as license enforcement and these topics are not covered.

In addition to the hardware overview, the book covers the Service Assurance Agent (SAA) which was renamed to IP SLA quite a while ago.

Buffer / Memory management sections also cover old router models and don't make mention of the newer routers.

==Voice / Unified Communications Chapter==

This chapter does have a note that indicates the section covers configuration for the newer 2800/2900/3800 but in my opinion does not appear to contain many recent additions.

It mentions G711/G729 without even listing the newer codecs such as G722 and ilbc. The DSP configuration section has not been updated for ISRs or ISRG2s. It lists older models by name. ISR and ISR G2 DSP architecture is significantly different from the older routers and this section does not have any information on the current shipping router models. SAA is also mentioned here as well and the configuration tasks listed are not relevant to the new IP SLA configuration.

In summary, there is ALOT of information covered in this book including a lengthy section on IPv6. However, it is a "configuration handbook" not a theory book, and in many cases the book has not been updated to reflect the recent changes within Cisco router hardware or software development.

This book will be useful for someone new to Cisco routers or someone who is dabbling in areas outside of their expertise. However for someone experienced in Cisco IOS it may contain too much outdated information to be useful or relevant to the current technologies in the latest 12.4T or 15.x IOS trains.

While this book cover many topics and aspects of the Cisco router it is a bit superficial and as a CCNP I couldn't find a good use for this book.

from protocols to packet processing,security and voice, it has a real potential but it doesn't deliver.

If you're starting your way in the router world read this book and get yourself a good solid base but if you're anywhere beyond that point look elsewhere.

For me this book is an excellent source for learning the Cisco IOS. I am starting out trying to get Cisco Certified, and this book is along with other great Cisco Press books are really going to help me. This book is a great overview of the most of the commands that a new to cisco person will need.

The book is broken into 5 parts, with the first two sections really getting into the fundamentals. I love how the sections are setup for a beginner (as I am) so that it's easy to follow.

The pictures with each section really help the visual part of learning (another good thing for me) and having the commands in bold is great as well.

I couldn't be happier with the book from a learning standpoint, as usual Cisco Press has created a great book for newbies (this is my 3rd book from Cisco Press). This will be a book that I will keep handy with me at work for a great reference as I try and learn

Although this book could be used in preparation for the Cisco router exam, it is not intended as a 'exam cram' type of book. Instead it is written with the professional network administrator or engineer in mind. As such, it written with the reader needing quick and concise information at hand to solve the immediate problem. It presumes that you have already gotten the instructional or theoretical information from other materials and you want something to carry around when you have a problem to fix and need to refresh your memory on the exact things you need to do right now. If you don't have the basic information down, each major subject area has a list of recommended books that further explain what that chapter is all about.

You probably won't read this entire book from cover to cover. Instead you'll read the first few chapters and then go to other places in the book when you are looking for something specific.

If you are willing to learn about Cisco IOS, this is the reference you need.

It wont go deep into the technology but it will go straight to the configuration.

If for example you are looking for some NTP configuration, the book gives you everything you need in order to implement what you want into your router.

Some may say that some chapters are outdated, I cannot say that they are speaking about recent technology but it's worth metionning them.

I have implemented some Networks using ISDN and trust me I can still troubleshoot or configure those networks because of the book :)

The scope of the book is very wide, it goes from L2 to Security via IPV6, Voice, Routing protocol of course, Multicast ,QoS , MPLS , Voice and VPN !

Well... I think that there is all the topics needed in a network to function properly !

The authors David Hucaby, Steve McQuerry and Andrew Whitaker did a great job writing this book. They are experienced and their way to write is easy yo understand

If you buy this book, you wont regret it !

After reading through this book, I would recommend it to any engineer out there who runs a complex network or an aspiring engineer.

For the seasoned network veteran, sometimes it's tough keeping track of all the possible command and their uses for things you don't use constantly. Think of this book like a glossary of commands and their definitions. I have found my self using it when writing up project plans to make sure my command sets are correct on paper before testing in a lab environment.

For the aspiring networker, the beginning of the book really offers a beginners guide to basic config with in depth explanations (although if you don't know Cisco at all, this should be supplemental to your other studies) and tips. It offers basic examples and mini explanations with diagrams on some for the more advanced features.

All in all, this book is well worth having around for anyone working on Cisco. Highly recommended.

I have had the book for a while now and waited until I really got to implement the content before writing up this review.

I work every day with multiple Cisco routers and there are a lot of setup that goes into them and with every version of IOS there is something new to remember and add to the list. This book effectively eliminates that list. I have the smaller handbooks and Cisco Journals that travel with me from client site to client site but nothing in my bag of tricks so far in the month I have had a copy has been opened as much as this book.

Every chapter in the book follows the next logical step in the router setup process. From things like configuring IPs on the interface to setting up NAT and DHCP. It doesn't end there though. Being a full handbook you can follow the chapters through the book for advanced setups or easily skip around to what you need. I personally got out my trusty Post-It pen and flagged the sections that contain the features we use most heavily at the office to jump around more.

This is not the only official handbook I own for Cisco products and personally cannot wait until the next one comes to get my hand on it and keep my library updated. I would recommend getting this handbook if you are a seasoned pro or just starting out. There is always something you will be able to come back to and use.

David Hucaby, Steve McQuerry and Andrew Whitaker's CISCO ROUTER CONFIGURATION HANDBOOK, 2ND EDITION provides a fine survey covering router configuration basics, network protocols, packet processing, and more. The second updated edition offers new coverage of IPv6 addressing, multicast routing, and VPNs, and packages related features together for quick reference in a top pick for any advanced programming collection.

As an official release by Cisco, who holds the copyright, this book is an authoritative, comprehensive collection of information about the company's routers. Sysadmins who have to maintain such routers could find the book invaluable in their daily tasks.

One impressive section is chapter 9, on Quality of Service. To the extent that IPv4 has no intrinsic QoS, the chapter, insofar as it pertains to v4 traffic, shows the many ways in which Cisco has been able to work around this limitation.

But there could have been some improvements in the text. It assumes that you already have a Cisco router hooked up to your network. Where the mechanics of doing so, and the initial setup of the router might be specific to that model. Which is fair enough, but perhaps the text should explicitly tell the reader at the start to refer to her hardware manuals for the initial setup. Because the first chapter plunges right in, assuming the router is already on the network.

On page 41 there is this enigmantic statement - "you must have the cryptographic software image for your router". There are several problems with this. First, what is a software image? This term does not appear to be defined prior to that page. Then, what is a cryptographic software image? The index is nonexistent on both. Also, how do you tell whether you have this thing or not? And if you do not have it, how can you get it? What is the background of the reader? Should she be expected to already know all this?

While the authors are clearly qualified to write the book, their problem is that they have internalised their subject. The above statement could or should have been expanded into an entire paragraph that gives more information.

On page 172, for the chapter on Mobile IP, there should be a diagram on or next to that page of a home agent, foreign agent and mobile node. Page 177 has an example with such a diagram, but it's too far away. If the reader has never met mobile IP before, the chapter's start is too obscure without an adjacent diagram.