Managing IP Networks with Cisco Routers

This practical guide explains how to set up and maintain a production network. It discusses how to select routing protocols, how to configure protocols to handle most common situations, how to evaluate network equipment and vendors, and how to set up a help desk. Although the book focuses on Cisco routers, and gives examples using Cisco's IOS, the principles discussed are common to all IP networks, regardless of the vendor chosen.

Table of Contents:
Preface. 1. The Basics of IP Networking Addresses and Networks Private and Public Addresses The IP Routing Algorithm Domain Names and the Domain Name System. 2. Network Design - Part 1 Stating Your Goals - An Important First Step Network Architecture - How It All Fits Together Media Selection - What Goes Where? Physical Topology. 3. Network Design - Part 2 Hubs, Bridges, Switches, and Routers Router Placement Subnet Assignment and Mask Selection Proxy ARP as an Alternative to Subnets Redundancy and Fault Tolerance What About Multi-Protocol Networking? 4. Selecting Network Equipment What is an IP Router? Router Selection Criteria. 5. Routing Protocol Selection Static vs. Dynamic Routing Classification of Dynamic Routing Protocols Selecting a Routing Protocol. 6. Routing Protocol Configuration Basic Configurations Propagating Static Routes Using Variable Length Subnet Masks with a Classful Protocol Backup Static Routes Suppressing Advertisements Restricting Sources of Routing Information Filtering Specific Routes from an Update Dynamic Routing with Multiple Paths Using Multiple Routing Protocols at the Same Time. 7. The Non-Technical Side of Network Management How You View Your Network Defining the Boundaries of your Network Staff Skills Costs Establishing a Help Desk. 8. The Technical Side of Network Management Monitoring the Network Troubleshooting Tools for Monitoring and Troubleshooting Change Management. 9. Connecting to the Outside World Planning Links to Other Organizations and the Internet How Do I Connect to the Internet? Addresses External Routing Permanent or On-Demand? 10. Network Security What is Security? Assessing Your Security Needs Controlling Access Enhancing Privacy Maintaining Data Integrity Preventing Denial of Service Other Security Concerns A. Configuring Interfaces B. Where And How To Get New RFCs C. Obtaining Internet Drafts D. Obtaining IP Addresses Index

About the Author :
As an undergraduate at Baylor University, Scott was fascinated by the idea of two computers communicating with each other instead of acting independently. But it was during his second year of graduate study at Purdue, when he was given the opportunity to be the sole administrator for the Cypress Network -- an experimental long-haul packet switching network -- that he discovered his love of networking. Scott is now a member of Purdue University Computing Center's network engineering group where he manages a network of over twenty routers and more than 250 subnets using such varied technologies as switched and shared Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, FDDI, HiPPI, ATM, Frame Relay, and several wide-area links to the university's regional campuses. When he is not busy working on (or writing about) his network, Scott enjoys quiet evenings at home with a good movie or a good book, playing games with friends, and remodeling and redecorating his house.