Cisco Network Professional's Advanced Internetworking Guide (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ideal for any IT professional who uses Cisco technologies on a daily basis, or anyone who is preparing for their Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification.

The topics covered will be more in depth than other introductory-level books of similar topics, and will span from layer 2 technologies such as switching, STP, etherchannel, and trunking, all the way to application layer security topics such as firewall inspection and intrusion prevention systems. Items being covered in the middle will include all the common routing protocols RIP, EIGRP, OSPF and BGP. Many other routing technologies and WAN protocols will be covered including Multicast, MPLS, Cable and DSL. Coverage of redundancy protocols such as HSRP, VRRP and GLBP will be examined. A thorough coverage of convergence topics such as how voice, video and wireless traffic affect the network, and what can be done to improve the effects such as QOS and queuing.

This book is a key component for any IT professional preparing for their CCNP certification, as it covers in-depth the topics tested on in all four CCNP exams:

• Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (642-901)
• Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (642-812)
• Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (642-825)
• Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (642-485)

CD includes the exclusive Sybex Test Engine, with two Practice CCNP exams, as well as author code files.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

From the Back Cover

Build Solid Skills in Areas That Cisco Network Professionals Face Every Day

If you're a network professional using Cisco routers or switches, or are currently preparing for your CCNP certification, this in-depth book is the ideal choice to help you broaden your skills in key areas you face in a typical day on the job. It thoroughly explores routing and switching, application layer security, common routing protocols, redundancy protocols, voice and wireless devices, and much more. In addition, the book is built around a real-world case study, so you can see where and how technologies are actually implemented.

Find out the very latest on topics you need most—and prepare for CCNP certification at the same time—with this detailed reference and guide. The book includes a CD with sample CCNP certification test questions, complete code listings, and a PDF of the book.

• Configure, maintain, troubleshoot, and enhance Cisco routers and switches

• Thoroughly cover Layer 2 technologies, including switching, STP, etherchannel, and trunking

• Master application layer security, including firewall inspection, intrusion prevention, and more

• Review common Layer 3 routing and redundancy protocols such as RIP, EIGRP, BGP, HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP

• Explore IPv6 addressing, interoperation with IPv4, and troubleshooting

• Set up configurations for teleworkers, including cable, DSLs, Frame-Mode MPLs, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

• Maintain security for your internetwork-exploring Layer 2 and Layer 3 devices

• Configure and maintain converged traffic such as voice and video

• Review DiffServ Quality of Service (QOS), pre-classify, and queuing

• Learn, configure, and troubleshoot all of Cisco's newest wireless devices and topologies

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 888 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; Pap/Cdr edition (May 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470383607
• ISBN-13: 978-0470383605
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #410,120 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #8 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Networking > Networks, Protocols & APIs > WAN
  #92 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Certification Central > Publisher > Sybex

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Content, Confusing Title, August 6, 2009

By	Matthew A. Grulke - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First of all I want to point out that this is the best guide for the current CCNP (2008/2009) I have come across so far. It is far superior to the 4 Volume "official" Cisco Press CCNP guides in terms of relevance, clarity, and general readability.

Highlights:
Chapter 3, Spanning Tree Protocol - Don't get me wrong. Spanning tree is still the most boring topic in layer 2 switching, but unfortunately it is absolutely essential that Network Professionals have a solid understanding of how to work with and design networks in terms of spanning tree. This is one of the few spanning tree chapters in ANY book, that hasn't made me want to shoot myself.

Chapter 8, Multicast - With the growing demand for video and voice on networks, Multicast routing is a needed in order to keep bandwidth utilization and overhead under control. While the concept of how multicast routing works can be difficult to grasp and the addressing mechanism seems like a nightmare, this chapter really helps the reader get their head around it. If you've never worked with multicast before you may still need to go over this chapter a couple of times. I would like to add that Dense Mode Multicast protocols are the Devil. Don't use them even if you do have a butt load of multicast on your network, all that flooding is bad ju-ju. PIM-Sparse Mode is the way to go.

Chapter 20, Wireless Management and Security - The author does such a good job on this section, but I just wish there was more of it! The security sections (encryption and authentication) are clear and easy to understand. It is an absolute must to understand the differences between the two and how to apply them in the real world in order to avoid looking/sounding like an idiot. The sections on the lightweight controllers and WCS management are also great. This book really just scratches the surface of what current controller based wireless systems are capable of (only a half page on mesh networking?, KILLING me here), but the chapter does cover the CCNP exam topics in the required level of detail.

My only complaint is that I believe the title is misleading. A main function of the book is clearly to act as a study guide for the CCNP Exams, but "CCNP" or "Study Guide" is nowhere in the title. This is a problem because people searching for a CCNP study guide are likely going to overlook this text because the name doesn't fit what they are expecting. Currently the book shows up at the bottom of the page (#12) when searching with the simple keyword of "CCNP".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid, August 1, 2009

By	A. D. Lum (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

(What's this?)

I rate this "solid", which means that you won't die if you don't have it, but it is nice to have in your arsenal. It is written in my favorite style (for an IT book), which is what I would call "friendly" or "conversational".

The target audience is people who already have their CCNAs or equivalent knowledge and experience. The book is designed to help those who are pursuing a CCNP by introducing and covering the material in building block fashion (single case study). This approach gives the reader a better picture of how things fit together. In the IT world, this is a very good thing.

Achieving a high level of proficiency in the IT world is not easy. The road is very long and sometimes full of potholes (things that are at the time, incomprehensible). Diligent study of books like this one will smooth out the bumps and help you get you to your well-earned destination.

Use the book preview that Amazon provides. Have a look at the table of contents. That will tell you what the book will deliver.

Use "Surprise Me!" to get a feel for the writing style. That will tell you how the material is delivered.

If you give the coverage and delivery a thumbs up, then buy with confidence.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ESSENTIAL (if you're ready for it), July 29, 2009

By	Timothy Walker (Orlando, Florida USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

(What's this?)

Sybex Cisco Network Professional's Advanced Internetworking Guide is a highly specialized book. If you are not Cisco certified, you are not part of its target audience. Even earning a CCNA isn't necessarily a sufficient prerequisite... earning your living as a CCNA is.

Meet the criteria? Read on.

As Mr. Conlan freely admits in his introduction, no one book could possibly teach every topic covered by the CCNP exams. However, this work comes pretty close - any closer and the book would be too heavy to lift - offering an excellent examination of routing and switching protocols, security, wireless, and QoS.

The author's decade of experience as an IT instructor is evident in these pages; in first person voice, he leads the reader through a case study of a fictitious multinational's network infrastructure, building outward from the campus LAN to the enterprise edge. All major subject areas of all four exams are dealt with in due course, reinforced with end of chapter reviews and useful code samples on the bundled CD. While admittedly some of the material was over my head, I feel confident that it is accurate (Todd Lammle may have proofread) and, perhaps surprisingly, engaging and enjoyable to read!

I recommend this book without hesitation as a self-study textbook of advanced Cisco internetworking... if you've finished reading Network Warrior, buy it now. It would also make a great starting point for certification prep, providing a comprehensive and logically structured overview of the CCNP Official Exam Certification Library... just don't even think about sitting for the CCNP exams without first spending many, many hours in the lab.

Thank you, Mr. Conlan, for a wonderful book. I look forward to re-reading it when I am ready.