Cisco CCNP Certification Training : The New CCNP BCMSN 642-812 Exam

Cisco CCNP certification is about to become more valuable and more difficult! Cisco is making major changes to the CCNP certification program, retiring two exams (BCRAN and CIT) while updating two old friends, the BSCI and BCMSN exam. Today, we'll take a look at the changes in the Building Converged Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN) exam.

According to Cisco's exam blueprint, there are some major additions with the introduction of the 642-812 exam. Wireless access, security, and voice are all rapidly growing features and concerns in today's real-world networks, and Cisco is responding to that by adding all three of these topics to the CCNP BCMSN exam. Cisco CCNP candidates should expect to be questioned on WLANs as well as wireless clients.

There were some security topics on the 642-811 BCMSN exam, port security and 802.1x among them. The successful Cisco CCNP certification candidate will now be expected to know about the different network attacks that can take place at the data link layer of the OSI model, including DHCP Spoofing and VLAN Hopping.

There was also just a bit of voice material on the 642-811 BCMSN exam, but you'll have to know more voice to pass the 642-812 exam. Voice VLANs, voice QoS, and IP Phone configuration are just some of the topics being added to the new BCMSN exam.

Cisco is obviously raising the bar with the new CCNP exams, and this certification is going to be harder to get than ever before. That also makes it more valuable than ever before, and 2007 will be the best year yet in which to earn your CCNP certification. Make your plans to earn this valuable Cisco certification, and then put that plan into action!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 100 free certification exam tutorials, including Cisco CCNA certification test prep articles. His exclusive Cisco CCNA study guide and Cisco CCNA training is also available! Visit his blog and sign up for Cisco Certification Central, a daily newsletter packed with CCNA, Network+, Security+, A+, and CCNP certification exam practice questions! A free 7-part course, "How To Pass The CCNA", is also available, and you can attend an in-person or online CCNA boot camp with The Bryant Advantage!

The Brief History of Cisco Certifications

Even young people can remember the old days when network administrators were more often associated for being the person sitting next to a computer system rather than for specific abilities of proficiency. In those early days, CCNA Certification or CCNA training were concepts totally ignored by most small-to-medium businesses, and they never asked a network administrator to apply for a CCNA course.

In fact during long time, many office managers just learned a few computer tricks to qualify as network administrator because a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) was only known as inter networking became more complex. The increasingly sophistication in design and equipment requiring IT professionals.

CCNA training begin to be considered essential when the business world found that only the labor of a pool consisting of qualified technicians could handle common problems and new challenges resulting from the evolving of new technologies. A CCNA course was synonym of the knowledge and skills accrediting IT personal.

As the time went by, all major vendors of computer software and hardware started to develop their own certification programs with the customers in mind. CCNA Certification become necessary to ensure providing them with people up to date with the technology, to help customers implement their products.

This way, Cisco certifications began with the offer of the Cisco Certified Inter networking Engineer (CCIE), which was a extremely difficult level of certification, as the only CCNA course available during that time. Such CCNA Certification usually required several years of experience and thousands of dollars.

CCNA training consisted of torturous lab practical, needing multiple attempts at the exam, in order to pass. CCIE Certification still require the same level of experience, practice and the rigorous nature of the exam that only a few candidates actually pass, but Cisco has developed intermediate levels of certification nowadays.

CCNA Certification can be acquired applying for a CCNA course designed for those who want to be identified as Cisco-knowledgeable technicians to improve their opportunities to develop an IT career or integrate themselves to the growing demand for computer-related jobs.

It is a well known fact that a college degree in any field cannot guarantee employment, if the person holding a college diploma is not capable of doing properly the job, regardless any advanced degree. In networking, a traditional college four-year degree in Computer Science may be obsolete by graduation day due the constantly shifting nature of technology.

Cisco has worked very hard through its history to make sure any CCNA Certification, CCNA training or CCNA course retain its real worth and prestige in the marketplace.

Natalie Aranda writes about CBT and IT certifications. CCNA Certification can be acquired applying for a CCNA course designed for those who want to be identified as Cisco-knowledgeable technicians to improve their opportunities to develop an IT career or integrate themselves to the growing demand for computer-related jobs. Learnkey offers expert on-demand training solutions, bringing software to educate you at home, school or office via PC. This vendor has helped thousands of people achieve their certification goals, through the use of critical software and related technology, including MCSE, MCSA, Cisco, MCDBA, MOS and Wireless.

Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: Variance And Unequal Cost Load Balancing

To pass the CCNA exam, you've got to know how to work with IGRP and EIGRP unequal-cost load balancing. You may not see much IGRP in production networks anymore, but you'll see a lot of EIGRP, and part of fine-tuning your EIGRP network is making sure that all paths are in use while allowing for varying bandwidth rates.

Using the variance command is the easy part - it's getting the metric that's the hard part with IGRP. With EIGRP, you just look in the topology table and that's it. With IGRP, you've got to run a debug to get the right metric.

The variance command is a multiplier when the value supplied with the variance command is multiplied by the lowest-cost metric, it must exceed the higher-cost metric in order for the higher-cost route to be added.

If that sounds complicated, it's not. It's one of those things that sounds difficult, but isn't. Trust me!

In this example, R1 has two paths to 172.23.0.0, but is currently using only one. By looking in the IP routing table, we've seen that the lowest-cost metric for network 172.23.0.0 on R1 is 8576. This path goes through the 172.12.123.0 network. There is another valid path that uses the 172.12.13.0 network, but is not currently in use.

I 172.23.0.0/16 [100/8576] via 172.12.123.2, 00:00:53, Serial0

IGRP does not have a "show" command that displays all valid routes to a destination, as does EIGRP. The command debug ip igrp transactions will show the current metric of the routes using the 512 KBPS route.

R1#debug ip igrp transactions

IGRP protocol debugging is on

19:17:51: IGRP: broadcasting request on Loopback0

19:17:51: IGRP: broadcasting request on Serial0

19:17:51: IGRP: broadcasting request on Serial1

19:17:51: IGRP: received update from 172.12.13.3 on Serial1

19:17:51: subnet 172.12.13.0, metric 23531 (neighbor 21531)

19:17:51: subnet 172.12.123.0, metric 23531 (neighbor 8476)

19:17:51: network 1.0.0.0, metric 24031 (neighbor 8976)

19:17:51: network 2.0.0.0, metric 22131 (neighbor 1600)

19:17:51: network 3.0.0.0, metric 22031 (neighbor 501)

19:17:51: network 172.23.0.0, metric 21631 (neighbor 1100)

R1(config)#router igrp 1
R1(config-router)#variance 3
R1#show ip route 172.23.0.0
Routing entry for 172.23.0.0/16
Known via "igrp 1", distance 100, metric 8576
Redistributing via igrp 1
Advertised by igrp 1 (self originated)
Last update from 172.12.123.2 on Serial0, 00:00:01 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 172.12.13.3, from 172.12.13.3, 00:00:20 ago, via Serial1
Route metric is 21631, traffic share count is 1
Total delay is 21000 microseconds, minimum bandwidth is 512 Kbit
Reliability 255/255, minimum MTU 1500 bytes
Loading 1/255, Hops 0
172.12.123.3, from 172.12.123.3, 00:00:20 ago, via Serial0
Route metric is 8576, traffic share count is 3
Total delay is 21000 microseconds, minimum bandwidth is 1544 Kbit
Reliability 255/255, minimum MTU 1500 bytes
Loading 1/255, Hops 0
172.12.123.2, from 172.12.123.2, 00:00:01 ago, via Serial0
Route metric is 8576, traffic share count is 3
Total delay is 21000 microseconds, minimum bandwidth is 1544 Kbit
Reliability 255/255, minimum MTU 1500 bytes
Loading 1/255, Hops 0

The metric for 172.23.0.0 through the direct connection is 21631. A variance of 3 means that any route with a metric less than the best metric multiplied by the variance (in this case, 8576 x 3 = 25728) will be entered into the routing table. R1 now has three unequal-cost paths to 172.23.0.0 in its routing table, and load balancing will take place.

IGRP unequal-cost load balancing takes some practice, but as you can see, once you get the metric it's easy to work with. Just make sure you know how to get that metric!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Get your CCNA study guide from The Bryant Advantage!

The Value of IT Certifications in Career Development

Information technology (IT) is the branch of engineering dealing with the use of computers and telecommunications, developing and maintaining systems as well as retrieving, storing and transmitting information. Therefore, any person wanting to develop a career in IT should be aware of the value of IT certifications.

Through education and certification, professionals gain the skills, knowledge, and validation needed to be recognized as an expert in diverse products or technologies. MCSE Certification, CCNA Certification, A+ Certification, and SAP Certification are just a few of the many credentials an IT professional may achieve.

Microsoft certification programs are considered to be the major advancement to gain both professional and education background. There are several Microsoft certifications currently available for both onsite or offsite training; being MCSE Certification, one of the most frequently requested certifications.

The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification prove an individual's expertise in designing and implementing the required infrastructure for any type of business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform and Microsoft Windows Server System.

Demand for the network administration job function is another branch of IT, which has grown significantly, the same as candidates applying for this certification, particularly CCNA Certification.

The CCNA certification (Cisco Certified Network Associate) indicates a foundation in apprentice knowledge of networking with certified professionals able to install, configure, and operate WAN, LAN, and dial access services for small networks with 100 nodes or fewer

Operation and configuration services also includes but are not limited to use one but several of the following protocols: Serial, Frame Relay, IP RIP, IP, IGRP, VLANs, RIP, and Ethernet, Access Lists.

IT Certifications in career development add valuable credentials for IT professionals in a competitive industry where a certification for jobs like these is needed at the same time that learning is necessary due to the constant changing business environments

A+ Certification prove the competency of entry-level service technicians in the computer industry and it is an internationally recognized testing program sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)

This certification is different from the others because it is not promoted by one company only, but by a whole group of PC manufacturers and other companies in the hardware market and its acceptance as an industry-wide credential offers additional benefits.

The ultimate goal of all IT certifications is in the development of your professional career is validating a specific experience required by the network and systems administrator job role for any small, middle or large company.

SAP Certification is one of the few credentials in the world of business with additional value only issued to those professionals who demonstrated their abilities by passing demanding, process-oriented exams through rigorous study or direct experience.

Natalie Aranda writes about learning, training and information technology. MCSE Certification, CCNA Certification, A+ Certification, and SAP Certification are just a few of the many credentials an IT professional may achieve.

Cisco CCNP / BCSI Exam Tutorial: Broadcasts And The IP Helper-Address Command

While routers accept and generate broadcasts, they do not forward them. This can be quite a problem when a broadcast needs to get to a device such as a DHCP or TFTP server that's on one side of a router with other subnets on the other side.

If a PC attempts to locate a DNS server with a broadcast, the broadcast will be stopped by the router and will never get to the DNS server. By configuring the ip helper-address command on the router, UDP broadcasts such as this will be translated into a unicast by the router, making the communication possible. The command should be configured on the interface that will be receiving the broadcasts.

R1(config)#int e0

R1(config-if)#ip helper-address ?

A.B.C.D IP destination address

R1(config-if)#ip helper-address 100.1.1.2

Now, you may be wondering if this command covers all UDP services. Sorry, you're not getting off that easy! The command does forward eight common UDP service broadcasts, though.

TIME, port 37

TACACS, port 49

DNS, port 53

BOOTP/DHCP Server, port 67

BOOTP/DHCP Client, port 68

TFTP, port 69

NetBIOS name service, port 137

NetBIOS datagram service, port 138

That's going to cover most scenarios where the ip helper-address command will be useful, but what about those situations where the broadcast you need forwarded is not on this list? You can use the ip forward-protocol command to add any UDP port number to the list.

Additionally, to remove protocols from the default list, use the no ip forward-protocol command. In the following example, we'll add the Network Time Protocol port to the forwarding list while removing the NetBIOS ports. Remember, you can use IOS Help to get a list of commonly filtered ports!

R1(config)#ip forward-protocol udp ?

<0-65535> Port number

biff Biff (mail notification, comsat, 512)

bootpc Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) client (68)

bootps Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) server (67)

discard Discard (9)

dnsix DNSIX security protocol auditing (195)

domain Domain Name Service (DNS, 53)

echo Echo (7)

isakmp Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (500)

mobile-ip Mobile IP registration (434)

nameserver IEN116 name service (obsolete, 42)

netbios-dgm NetBios datagram service (138)

netbios-ns NetBios name service (137)

netbios-ss NetBios session service (139)

ntp Network Time Protocol (123)

pim-auto-rp PIM Auto-RP (496)

rip Routing Information Protocol (router, in.routed, 520)

snmp Simple Network Management Protocol (161)

snmptrap SNMP Traps (162)

sunrpc Sun Remote Procedure Call (111)

syslog System Logger (514)

tacacs TAC Access Control System (49)

talk Talk (517)

tftp Trivial File Transfer Protocol (69)

time Time (37)

who Who service (rwho, 513)

xdmcp X Display Manager Control Protocol (177)

R1(config)#ip forward-protocol udp 123

R1(config)#no ip forward-protocol udp 137

R1(config)#no ip forward-protocol udp 138 As you can see, the ip helper-address command helps work around the fact that broadcasts aren't forwarded by routers by default, and if you just need to send one or two broadcast types, the other types can be turned off easily.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", just visit the website! You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNP exam with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: ISDN Details You Must Know

CCNA exam success depends partially on knowing the details of ISDN, and there are plenty of them! To help you review for your CCNA exam, here are a few ISDN details that you must know on exam day. (They help in the real world, too รขโ�ฌโ�� and there are still plenty of ISDN networks out there!

The Cisco-proprietary version of HDLC is the default encapsulation type for serial and ISDN interfaces.

R2#show interface serial0

Serial0 is up, line protocol is up

Hardware is HD64570

MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1544 Kbit, DLY 20000 usec, rely 255/255, load 1/255

Encapsulation HDLC, loopback not set, keepalive set (10 sec)

While thereรขโ�ฌโ�ขs only one D-channel in BRI, PRI (US) and PRI (EU), the bandwidth of that D-channel does vary from BRI to PRI. Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs 16 kbps in BRI and 64 kbps in both PRI versions.

The global command isdn switch-type must be configured before you can even begin to have ISDN work. show isdn status will tell you whether or not youรขโ�ฌโ�ขve done this correctly.

R2#show isdn status

**** No Global ISDN Switchtype currently defined ****

ISDN BRI0 interface

dsl 0, interface ISDN Switchtype = none

Layer 1 Status:

DEACTIVATED

Layer 2 Status:

Layer 2 NOT Activated

Layer 3 Status:

0 Active Layer 3 Call(s)

PAP allows passwords to be different; CHAP requires that they be the same.

PAP requires the "ppp pap sent-username" interface-level command. CHAP has no equivalent command.

Define interesting traffic with dialer-list and link that list to the interface with dialer-group.

R2#conf t

R2(config)#dialer-list 1 proto ip permit

R2(config)#int bri0

R2(config-if)#dialer-group 1

The dialer idle-timeout value is expressed in seconds, not minutes. (Even IOS Help isnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt totally clear on this.)

R2(config)#int bri0

R2(config-if)#dialer-group 1

R2(config-if)#dialer idle-timeout ?

<1-2147483> Idle timeout before disconnecting a call

R2(config-if)#dialer idle-timeout 120

Dialer map maps a remote IP address to a remote phone number. You never dial the local routerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs phone number.

dialer load-threshold requires the ppp multilink command to be configured, and the value of dialer load-threshold is expressed as a ratio of 255, NOT 100. For example, if you want the second b-channel to come up when the first reaches 50% of capacity, the value to express with dialer load-threshold would be 50% of 255 รขโ�ฌโ�� which equals 127.

R2(config)#int bri0

R2(config-if)#encap ppp

R2(config-if)#ppp multilink

R2(config-if)#dialer load-threshold ?

<1-255> Load threshold to place another call

Success on the CCNA exam depends on knowing the details. Keep studying, keep practicing on real Cisco routers and switches, keep a positive attitude, and you're on your way to CCNA exam success!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Get your CCNA study guide from The Bryant Advantage!

You're in the Army Now - So Welcome To The MCSE Boot Camp

If a person wants to earn a specific credential provided by objective validation of the ability to perform specific IT functions, we should go in for MCSE. This course has helped many IT professionals to work more effectively. To learn this Microsoft certification course the MCSE boot camp has been set up. This MCSE boot camp intensive training gives a quick injection of knowledge.

The main aim of MCSE boot camp is to provide fast certification process. The duration of this course is short which are generally one or two weeks. Moreover the timings of MCSE boot camp are flexible to meet the training requirements.

The MCSE boot camp training is not given to anyone or everyone. The teaching in this camp is fast and basic knowledge of the chosen subject is a must. The MCSE course is not easy enough that a person can mange on his own thus training from a MCSE boot camp is most of the time most necessary. There are also a lot of complicated concepts in an MCSE boot camp, which are unraveled during the course duration. Thus to benefit all the people appearing for MCSE, an MCSE boot camp has been set up. The main aim of MCSE boot camp is to provide proper guide and training from an educated instructor who can help the examinees to pass the exams.

After attending two weeks program from an MCSE boot camp the percentage of examinees clearing the exam significantly increases. Before the MCSE boot camp had been set up the clearing percentage had been staggering 20-40% but after the MCSE boot camp has been set up the percentage shot up to as high as 90%.

In an MCSE boot camp a learned, knowledgeable and educated instructor is provided who can clear all concepts and complexities. In addition to this the class is like a sort of group discussion where fellow students ask their queries and get the clarifications. MCSE boot camp create high performance environment to make learning as fun as well as easy.

Microsoft certification is increasing day be day. It is the most widely recognized technical certification in the industry, which is on high demand. . The MCSE boot camp institutes make them earn their Microsoft certification and make them lead the organization in successful manner. The MCP personnel administer the most advanced Microsoft windows platform and Microsoft server products. The survey of MCP magazine states that the average base salary of MCP ranges from $60,000 to $70,000.

The MCSE boot camp is like a boon to the fellow students. This institutes brings us away from the day to-day commotion and makes us focus on nothing else but the certification course. The trainers are also well trained, experienced and have the real world experience with products. These instructors are available even after their teaching hours. The MCSE boot camp classes are well equipped with the products, which allows every student to obtain hands-on experience with the product. Fellow students may contact the instructors in case of any difficulty or doubts.

The MCSE boot camp classes provide several ways for successful completion of course. Some MCSE boot camp also provide refresher course, which is free of charge, after the completion of the course. This offer is valid six months after the completion of the MCSE boot camp. The terms and condition of the MCSE boot camp also state that if the person is not happy with the teaching and the course program then he can take the classes again without any additional tuition cost within next six months.

The MCSE boot camp clearly mention that they shall strive their best to make their fellow students succeed in obtaining the Microsoft certification. A MCSE boot camp helps in learning the content and clears all doubts and queries.

James Croydon, Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE Online Training advisor - focusing on MCSE Certification Courses and MCSE Certification

Online MCSE Certification

An MCSE certification is one of the most valued qualifications in the IT industry. The credentials of earning the MCSE traditionally would be same as earning it through an online system, and there are several advantages of following the online path.

Through an online course, all study takes place at home or in the office, wherever is convenient. Most companies who provide online certification training have been certified by Microsoft, and they have a network of teachers and administrative personnel to help a candidate sail smoothly through the study period and the exam. There is an added advantage of cutting down on traveling time and costs, which one would generally waste in traditional classroom training. Also, the fees of such programs are considerably lower than their study center counterparts.

The pace of study for these programs is decided by the candidate. One can spend from a few minutes to a few hours a day, depending upon oneรขโ�ฌโ�ขs personal schedule. Also, one can study anytime, twenty-four hours a day. The course materials, reference and sample test papers for individual subjects are available on the servers. Moreover, the entire software required for the learning process is in constant supply, and this software provides real exam-like simulations which engage the candidates in the learning process.

The duration of these courses can vary from 6 months to an entire year depending upon the company offering the course. Upon successful completion and passing of a grade of 70% or higher, these companies are authorized to grant the candidate with an MCSE certificate.

MCSE Certification provides detailed information on MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Training, Online MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Exam and more. MCSE Certification is affiliated with MCSE Term Papers.

Cisco CCNA Exam Tutorial And Case Study: VLANs and IP Connectivity

In this CCNA case study, we'll take some basic switching and trunking theory and put it into action. We have two routers (R2 and R3) along with two switches (SW1 and SW2). R2 is connected to SW1 at fast 0/2, and R3 is connected to SW2 at fast 0/3. Both routers have IP addresses on the 172.12.23.0 /24 network.

For these routers to be able to ping each other, the switches must be able to communicate. These are two 2950 switches, and they're connected via two crossover cables. Before we worry about the router connectivity, let's make sure the trunk link is up between the switches with the "show interface trunk" command.

SW2#show interface trunk

Port Mode Encapsulation Status Native vlan

Fa0/11 desirable 802.1q trunking 1

Fa0/12 desirable 802.1q trunking 1

< output truncated for clarity >

The default mode of these switches is for the ports to run in dynamic desirable trunking mode, so we didn't even need to write a configuration to have the trunk form - it's already there!

Show vlan brief reinforces the theory that by default, all switch ports are placed into VLAN 1 (except the trunk ports).

R2 and R3รขโ�ฌโ�ขs Ethernet addresses have already been configured, the trunk line is operational, and both ports are in VLAN 1. We'll ping R2รขโ�ฌโ�ขs Ethernet interface from R3, and then R3รขโ�ฌโ�ขs Ethernet interface from R2 to verify IP connectivity.

R2#ping 172.23.23.3

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.3, timeout is 2 seconds:

!!!!!

Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 4/4/8 ms

R3#ping 172.23.23.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.2, timeout is 2 seconds: !!!!!

Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 4/4/8 ms

With pings, exclamation points indicate IP connectivity, and periods indicate no connectivity.

So we've got connectivity! Now let's see if we still have that connectivity when the ports are placed into different VLANs. Cisco CCNA theory states that devices in different VLANs can't communicate without the intervention of a Layer 3 device, but let's see if that's true by placing R2 into VLAN 23. (VTP is already running on these switches.)

SW1#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.

SW1(config)#int fast 0/2

SW1(config-if)#switchport mode access

SW1(config-if)#switchport access vlan 23

SW1(config-if)#^Z

Now that R2 and R3 are in separate VLANs, can they still send pings back and forth?

R2#ping 172.23.23.3

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.3, timeout is 2 seconds: .....

Success rate is 0 percent (0/5)

R3#ping 172.23.23.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.2, timeout is 2 seconds: .....

No, they canรขโ�ฌโ�ขt. The difference is that theyรขโ�ฌโ�ขre now in separate VLANs, and devices in different VLANs canรขโ�ฌโ�ขt communicate unless routing is taking place somewhere. Here, no routing is taking place, so the pings donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt go through.

Put R3รขโ�ฌโ�ขs switch port into VLAN 23, and try the ping again.

SW2#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.

SW2(config)#interface fast0/3

SW2(config-if)#switchport mode access

SW2(config-if)#switchport access vlan 23

R3#ping 172.23.23.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.2, timeout is 2 seconds: !!!!!

Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 4/4/8 ms

R2#ping 172.23.23.3

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.23.23.3, timeout is 2 seconds: !!!!!

Now that R2 and R3 are in the same VLAN, pings can go through. This just proves the theory - that inter-VLAN communicate requires a Layer 3 device. Layer 3 switches are becoming more and more popular, but router-on-a-stick is still around - and we'll see how to configure that in our next tutorial!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Get your CCNA study guide from The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNP / BSCI Exam Tutorial: Using The OSPF Command "Area Range"

Your BSCI and CCNP exam success depends on knowing the details, and one such detail is knowing the proper way to summarize routes in OSPF. Route summarization is not just a test of your binary conversion abilities, but knowing where and when to summarize routes. It will not surprise any CCNA or CCNP certification candidate that OSPF gives us the most options for route summarization, and therefore more details to know!

OSPF offers us two options for route summarization configurations. In a previous tutorial, we looked at the "summary-address" command, and today we'll look at the proper use of the "area range" command.

The "area range" command should be used on an Area Border Router (ABR) to summarize routes being advertised from one OSPF area to another. In this tutorial, R1 is acting as an ABR, with interfaces in both Area 0 and Area 1. Four loopbacks have been placed into R1's Area 1.

R1(config)#router ospf 1

R1(config-router)#network 12.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 a 1

R1(config-router)#network 13.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 a 1

R1(config-router)#network 14.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 a 1

R1(config-router)#network 15.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 a 1

The routing table of an OSPF neighbor, R2, shows all four routes.

R2#show ip route ospf

12.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O IA 12.12.12.12 [110/65] via 172.12.123.1, 00:18:52, Serial0

13.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O IA 13.13.13.13 [110/65] via 172.12.123.1, 00:18:42, Serial0

14.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O IA 14.14.14.14 [110/65] via 172.12.123.1, 00:18:32, Serial0

15.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O IA 15.15.15.15 [110/65] via 172.12.123.1, 00:18:32, Serial0

To keep the routing tables of downstream routers smaller but still have the desired IP connectivity, we can use the area range command on R1 to summarize these four routes. The key to keep in mind with the area range command is that the area number given in the command is the area containing the destinations, NOT the area that will receive the summary route.

R1(config)#router ospf 1

R1(config-router)#area 1 range 12.0.0.0 252.0.0.0

R2 now shows a single summary route that can be used to reach all four remote networks.

R2#show ip route ospf

O IA 12.0.0.0/6 [110/65] via 172.12.123.1, 00:00:21, Serial0

Interestingly enough, there's now an additional route in R1's routing table.

R1#show ip route ospf O 12.0.0.0/6 is a summary, 00:07:53, Null0

When you configure summary routes in OSPF, a route to null0 will be installed into the OSPF routing table of the router performing the summarization. This helps to prevent routing loops. Any packets destined for the routes that have been summarized will have a longer match in the routing table, and packets that do not match one of the summarized routes but do match the summary route will be dropped.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", just visit the website! You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNP exam with The Bryant Advantage!

How To Become A True CCNA

I've worked my way from the CCNA to the CCIE, and along the way I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with dozens of CCNAs and CCNA candidates. Believe me, people who "sneak by" the CCNA exam by braindumps, memorization, and never touching a router or switch are QUICKLY found out in job interviews and on the job.

The field will always need qualified CCNAs. The key word is "qualified". How can you make sure you're truly qualified? It's actually pretty simple.

1. Use routers and switches in your study, not simulators. Simulators are OK to start with, but when you're in the interview room and you're taken to the network room, that simulator's not going to be there. Real routers and switches are. With all due respect to the simulators on the market, they're not routers and switches. Don't fool yourself.

Attend a CCNA class that gets you plenty of time on real Cisco equipment. Used Cisco equipment is cheaper than ever. Look at it this way -- you can put together a true CCNA lab that you can also use for CCNP study for less than $1000. When you choose to sell it, you can get half of that back. A small investment like that pays huge dividends in your future.

2. Know binary math. Some leading CCNA books tell you to just memorize a chart to get by the exam. I wish I had a nickel for every CCNA that hasn't been able to solve a simple subnetting problem in a job interview. Someone who doesn't know binary math is not going to go far. Who's going to remember that chart they memorized for the exam six months ago?

3. Run plenty of "show" and "debug" commands when running labs. These are the commands that show you what's going on "behind the command". You need to know what is really happening when you put in a command when you get asked about it in an interview.

These three simple points separate the real CCNAs from the ones who got lucky or braindumped their way to success. By constructing a solid foundation of Cisco knowledge at the CCNA level, you build the bridgework for a lifetime of career success. You don't have to have a lot of job experience to get a CCNA job, but you do have to really understand the subject matter.

It worked for me. I went from the CCNA to the CCIE in this manner, and the habits I developed at the CCNA level followed me all the way to the top. It can happen for you, too!

Good luck!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNA Exam Tutorial: Configuring Standard Access Lists

Access Control Lists (ACLs) allow a router to permit or deny packets based on a variety of criteria. The ACL is configured in global mode, but is applied at the interface level. An ACL does not take effect until it is expressly applied to an interface with the ip access-group command. Packets can be filtered as they enter or exit an interface.

If a packet enters or exits an interface with an ACL applied, the packet is compared against the criteria of the ACL. If the packet matches the first line of the ACL, the appropriate "permit" or "deny" action is taken. If there is no match, the second lineรขโ�ฌโ�ขs criterion is examined. Again, if there is a match, the appropriate action is taken; if there is no match, the third line of the ACL is compared to the packet.

This process continues until a match is found, at which time the ACL stops running. If no match is found, a default "deny" takes place, and the packet will not be processed. When an ACL is configured, if a packet is not expressly permitted, it will be subject to the implicit deny at the end of every ACL. This is the default behavior of an ACL and cannot be changed.

A standard ACL is concerned with only one factor, the source IP address of the packet. The destination is not considered. Extended ACLs consider both the source and destination of the packet, and can consider the port number as well. The numerical range used for each is different: standard ACLs use the ranges 1-99 and 1300-1399; extended lists use 100-199 and 2000 to 2699.

There are several points worth repeating before beginning to configure standard ACLs.

Standard ACLs consider only the source IP address for matches.

The ACL lines are run from top to bottom. If there is no match on the first line, the second is run; if no match on the second, the third is run, and so on until there is a match, or the end of the ACL is reached. This top-to-bottom process places special importance on the order of the lines.

There is an implicit deny at the end of every ACL. If packets are not expressly permitted, they are implicitly denied.

If Router 3รขโ�ฌโ�ขs Ethernet interface should only accept packets with a source network of 172.12.12.0, the ACL will be configured like this:

R3#conf t

R3(config)#access-list 5 permit 172.12.12.0 0.0.0.255

The ACL consists of only one explicit line, one that permits packets from source IP address 172.12.12.0 /24. The implicit deny, which is not configured or seen in the running configuration, will deny all packets not matching the first line.

The ACL is then applied to the Ethernet0 interface:

R3#conf t

R3(config)#interface e0

R3(config-if)#ip access-group 5 in

But before you write any ACLs, it's a really good idea to see what other ACLs are already running on the router! To see the ACLs running on the router, use the command show access-list.

R1#show access-list

Standard IP access list 1

permit 0.0.0.0

Standard IP access list 5

permit 172.1.1.1

Standard IP access list 7

permit 23.3.3.3

Extended IP access list 100

permit tcp any any lt www (26 matches)

permit tcp any any neq telnet (12 matches)

deny ip any any

Extended IP access list 105

deny tcp any any eq www

deny tcp any any eq telnet

You're going to use ACLs all the way up the Cisco certification ladder, and throughout your career. The importance of knowing how to write and apply ACLs is paramount, and it all starts with mastering the fundamentals!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Get your CCNA study guide from The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNA Certification: The Hidden Details Of Telnet

Telnet is a simple yet powerful program that allows you to connect to a remote Cisco router or switch, and then configure it as though you were right at the console. Telnet is also one of those features that seems so very simple, until you get asked a half dozen questions about it on your CCNA exams. As with all topics, itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs the details you know about Telnet that will help you pass the Intro and ICND exams.

Letรขโ�ฌโ�ขs take a look at a few of these details. Weรขโ�ฌโ�ขll begin by debunking one common belief about Telnet:

Telnet runs at layer 7 of the OSI model, not layer 3!

Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs easy to think that Telnet runs at Layer 3 of the OSI model, the Network layer. After all, youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre entering an IP address when you telnet in to a router or switch, and you may be on another router when you do it! None of that matters. Layer 3 is strictly the domain of routing. Like other features that require input from the end user, especially authentication, Telnet runs at the Application layer of the OSI model.

Speaking of authenticationรขโ�ฌยฆ.

Cisco routers require a password to be set before anyone can telnet in.

Cisco routers can run quite a few passwords. We can set an enable password, an enable secret, an enable secret and enable password, a password for PPP connections, and even a console password.

All of those are optional, but the telnet password is not. Makes sense รขโ�ฌโ�� you wouldnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt want just anyone telnetting into your router, would you?

If you have no password set on the VTY lines of your router, no one can telnet in. If they try, theyรขโ�ฌโ�ขll see this message:

R1#telnet 3.3.3.3

Trying 3.3.3.3 ... Open

Password required, but none set

[Connection to 3.3.3.3 closed by foreign host]

To allow telnet access into a Cisco router, configure the VTY lines with a password and the login command:

R3#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.

R3(config)#line vty 0 4

R3(config-line)#login

% Login disabled on line 2, until 'password' is set

% Login disabled on line 3, until 'password' is set

% Login disabled on line 4, until 'password' is set

% Login disabled on line 5, until 'password' is set

% Login disabled on line 6, until 'password' is set

R3(config-line)#password cisco

Note the messages you get after enabling login. These messages simply indicate that the login wonรขโ�ฌโ�ขt work until a password is set. The order with which you use the login and password commands donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt matter just make sure you use them both.

Weรขโ�ฌโ�ขre not quite done, though. The remote user can now telnet in, but by default, that user will be placed into user exec mode. If the user is to be allowed to enter privileged exec mode during a telnet session, an enable password or enable secret must be set.

R1#telnet 3.3.3.3

Trying 3.3.3.3 ... Open

User Access Verification

Password:

R3>enable

% No password set

R3>

The user is stuck in user exec until you set a local enable password. Doing so will allow the user to use that password to enter privileged exec mode.

R3#conf t

R3(config)#enable password ccna

R3(config)#^Z

R1#telnet 3.3.3.3

Trying 3.3.3.3 ... Open

User Access Verification

Password: < user entered cisco here>

R3>enable

Password: < user entered ccna here >

R3#

The user is now in privileged exec mode. Thereรขโ�ฌโ�ขs also another method to use so the user is placed directly into privileged exec mode when telnetting in, avoiding the enable password prompt. Use the command privilege level 15 on the VTY lines to do so.

R3#conf t

R3(config)#line vty 0 4

R3(config-line)#privilege level 15

R1#telnet 3.3.3.3

Trying 3.3.3.3 ... Open

User Access Verification

Password: < user entered VTY line password here >

R3#

Note that the user went straight to privileged exec mode.

Managing Telnet Connections

We already know how to use Telnet (a layer 7 application) to access a remote device there are also commands that help us manage telnet connections.

"show sessions" is a common command to see what current telnet sessions are operating.

Telnet sessions do not have to be exited they can be suspended as well. The command to suspend the Telnet session is followed by striking the "X" key.

To resume this telnet session, enter the resume command followed by the session number ("resume 1") and press .

To end a suspended telnet session, enter the disconnect command followed by the session number ("disconnect 1") and press .

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNA / CCNP / BCMSN Exam Review: Trunking And Trunking Protocols

To earn your CCNA or CCNP certification, you've got to understand the basics of trunking. This isn't just a CCNA topic - you must have an advanced understanding of trunking and etherchannels to pass the BCMSN exam and earn your CCNP as well. Before we address those advanced topics, though, you need to master the fundamentals!

A trunk allows inter-VLAN traffic to flow between directly connected switches. By default, a trunk port is a member of all VLANs, so traffic for any and all VLANs can travel across this trunk. That includes broadcast traffic!

The default mode of a switch port does differ between models, so always check your documentation. On Cisco 2950 switches, every single port is in dynamic desirable mode by default, meaning that every port is actively attempting to trunk. On these switches, the only action needed from us is to physically connect them with a crossover cable. In just a few seconds, the port light turns green and the trunk is up and running. The command show interface trunk will verify trunking.

How does the receiving switch know what VLAN the frame belongs to? The frames are tagged by the transmitting switch with a VLAN ID, reflecting the number of the VLAN whose member ports should receive this frame. When the frame arrives at the remote switch, that switch will examine this ID and then forward the frame appropriately.

There are two major trunking protocols you must understand and compare successfully, those being ISL and IEEE 802.1Q. Let's take a look at the details of ISL first.

ISL is a Cisco-proprietary trunking protocol, making it unsuitable for a multivendor environment. That's one drawback, but there are others. ISL will place both a header and trailer onto the frame, encapsulating it. This increases the overhead on the trunk line.

You know that the default VLAN is also known as the "native VLAN", and another drawback to ISL is that ISL does not use the concept of the native VLAN. This means that every single frame transmitted across the trunk will be encapsulated.

The 26-byte header that is added to the frame by ISL contains the VLAN ID; the 4-byte trailer contains a Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC) value. The CRC is a frame validity scheme that checks the frame's integrity.

In turn, this encapsulation leads to another potential issue. ISL encapsulation adds 30 bytes total to the size of the frame, potentially making them too large for the switch to handle. (The maximum size for an Ethernet frame is 1518 bytes.)

IEEE 802.1q differs substantially from ISL. In contrast to ISL, dot1q does not encapsulate frames. A 4-byte header is added to the frame, resulting in less overhead than ISL. If the frame is destined for hosts residing in the native VLAN, that header isn't added. Since the header is only 4 bytes in size, and isn't even placed on every frame, using dot1q lessens the chance of oversized frames. When the remote port receives an untagged frame, the switch knows that these untagged frames are destined for the native VLAN.

Knowing the details is the difference between passing and failing your CCNA and CCNP exams. Keep studying, get some hands-on practice, and youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre on your way to Cisco certification success!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", just visit the website! You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNP exam with The Bryant Advantage!

How To Start A Career In The Computer Field

If you're considering a career working in Information Technology - a fancy way of saying "working with computers" - congratulations! I can tell you from personal experience that it's one of the best decisions you'll ever make. I can also tell you from personal experience that it is never too late to begin!

I started my IT career 10 years ago, and it was a tough decision. I was 34 years old, and really knew next to nothing about computers. I decided to attend a technical school to get my career started, and it was the best decision I've ever made. Ten years later, I write ebooks and teach classes dealing with different facets of networking, Iรขโ�ฌโ�ขve earned the most difficult computer certification in the world, and I've never been happier. The same thing can happen for you.

As with any new venture, there are some things you have to watch out for, so I'm going to share my experiences with you in this new series of articles. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't work for me, and some tips and tricks on developing a fun, exciting, and financially rewarding career in Information Technology.

The first decision, and one of the biggest, is to decide what technical school to attend. If you think you can't afford it, think again. Ask yourself this question: Can you afford not to go?

Almost every college and community college offers some kind of technical class, so look into those. For many of us, though, a technical college such as ITT or ECPI is a better bet. These colleges have more of a focus on technology, and can also help with job placement.

What you should beware with some technical schools is an unrealistic emphasis on how much money you're going to make when you graduate. Some schools are fond of mentioning the MCSE Salary Survey, making it sound like you're going to make $65,000 or more in your first IT job. Iรขโ�ฌโ�ขm not saying that canรขโ�ฌโ�ขt happen, but itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs not very realistic for your first job. When you visit a school you're thinking of attending, ask to speak to someone in the job placement department and ask them point-blank where they've recently placed graduates and the salaries at which they were hired.

Find out how many of the classes include hands-on labs. This should be close or at 100%. The only real way to learn about software such as Microsoft Server, or any computer hardware, is to really work with it. Just reading about it isnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt enough. Believe it or not, computer hardware and software doesnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt always work the way the books say it will!

You should also ask the school if any of their courses include preparing for computer certification exams. Professional certifications such as the CCNA, Network+, Security+, A+, and MCSE can be a huge boost to your career and your salary. We'll talk more about that in the next installment of this series. In the meantime, stop dreaming about a computer career and start planning on how to make it happen!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 100 free CCNA and Network + tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, Ultimate Network+ Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and twice-daily CCNA, Network+, and CCNP certification exam practice questions! Details are on the website. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! And now, you can earn your Security + certification from The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNP / BCMSN Exam Tutorial: The Core Layer Of Cisco's Three-Layer Model

In this section, you're going to be reintroduced to a networking model you first saw in your CCNA studies. No, it's not the OSI model or the TCP/IP model - it's the Cisco Three-Layer Hierarchical Model. Let's face it, just about all you had to do for the CCNA was memorize the three layers and the order they were found in that model, but the stakes are raised here in your CCNP studies. You need to know what each layer does, and what each layer should not be doing. This is vital information for your real-world network career as well, so let's get started with a review of the Cisco three-layer model, and then we'll take a look at each layer's tasks. Most of the considerations at each layer are common sense, but we'll go over them anyway!

Today weรขโ�ฌโ�ขll take a look at the core layer of the Cisco model.

The term core switches refers to any switches found here. Switches at the core layer allow switches at the distribution layer to communicate, and this is more than a full-time job. It's vital to keep any extra workload off the core switches, and allow them to do what they need to do - switch! The core layer is the backbone of your entire network, so we're interested in high-speed data transfer and very low latency - that's it!

Core layer switches are usually the most powerful in your network, capable of higher throughput than any other switches in the network. Remember, everything we do on a Cisco router or switch has a cost in CPU or memory, so we're going to leave most frame manipulation and filtering to other layers. The exception is Cisco QoS, or Quality of Service. QoS is generally performed at the core layer. We'll go into much more detail regarding QoS in another tutorial, but for now, know that QoS is basically high-speed queuing where special consideration can be given to certain data in certain queues. (Youรขโ�ฌโ�ขll soon find that this is a very basic definition!)

We always want redundancy, but you want a lot of redundancy in your core layer. This is the nerve center of your entire network, so fault tolerance needs to be as high as you can possibly get it. Root bridges should also be located in the core layer.

The importance of keeping unnecessary workload off your core switches cannot be overstated. In the next part of this BCMSN tutorial, weรขโ�ฌโ�ขll take a look at how the other layers of the Cisco three-part model do just that.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Get your CCNA study guide from The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNP Certification / BSCI Exam Tutorial: Route Summarization Basics

As you earn your CCNA and CCNP certification, you're going to have to get comfortable with manually summarizing routes. This isn't just another reason to learn binary math (although it's a good one!), but summarizing routes is a true real-world skill that can help your network operate more efficiently. So the question isn't just how to summarize routes, it's why.

When you summarize routes in RIP, IGRP, EIGRP, or OSPF, you're replacing a series of routes with a summary route and mask. With RIP, IGRP, and EIGRP, this actually lessens the size of the routing update packet itself - multiple routes are replaced with the summary route. For instance, the routes 8.0.0.0/8, 9.0.0.0/8, 10.0.0.0/8, and 11.0.0.0/8 can be summarized as 8.0.0.0 252.0.0.0. Only the summary address will be found in the update packet, making it concise yet complete.

Summarizing routes can also make the routing table smaller, yet still allow for complete IP connectivity when done correctly. Using the above example, the four more-specific routes will be replaced by a single summary route. Since the entire routing table is parsed before the routing process is complete, keeping the routing table as small as possible does help speed the routing process as a whole.

To prepare for success on your CCNA and CCNP exam, you've got to know how to summarize routes as well as the specific commands for doing so with OSPF, EIGRP, RIP, and IGRP - but knowing why to summarize routes is just as important as knowing how! Here are some additional tips on route summarization.

With RIP version 2 and EIGRP, manual route summarization is configured on the interface that will be advertising the summary. This is done with the route summarization command "ip summary-address."

RIP version 2 and EIGRP also both perform autosummarization on routes that are advertised across classful network boundaries. This is disabled with the protocol-level command "no auto-summary".

OSPF offers two different route summarization commands. To summarize routes from one OSPF area to another, use the "area range" command; to summarize routes learned via redistribution, use the "summary-address" command on the ASBR.

With proper planning and an understanding of binary math, you'll master route summarization quickly with some practice - and you'll be ready for success on real-world networks as well as the CCNA and CCNP exams!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", just visit the website! You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNP exam with The Bryant Advantage!

Why Should I Train for a Microsoft Certification?

Microsoft certification is a vast combination of rich and varied spectrum of job and responsibilities. To successfully perform the critical IT function we should earn a specific credential providing objective validity of the ability. One of the most effective ways to reach a long-term career goal, which is even embraced by industry professionals worldwide, is Microsoft certification.

Advancing with long-term career goals Microsoft certification has helped countless IT professionals work more effectively. Individuals have started quoting their valuable experiences during the Microsoft certification course on the websites available. The professionals of Microsoft certification course are very different from the IT counterparts. They not only keep on fighting the challenges of IT field but also have keep themselves a step ahead from them by developing and improving their skills. These certification processes gives one a kind of knowledge to know how to get recognized in any field.

The professionals of Microsoft certification are called at the Microsoft certified professionals or MCP. For the this Microsoft certification they have to pass current Microsoft certification exam which will proved a reliable and valid measure of professional and technical expertise. The validity of a current exam is only considered and not which is retired. Microsoft certification exams reflect how Microsoft products are used in the organization.

Microsoft certification exams are developed from the inputs received from the IT industry professionals. The independent testing organizations administer these exams. There is one very big reason why IT professionals and developers become Microsoft certified professionals is that they all know that their clients, peers, employees and the IT industry shall acknowledge their expertise in working with the Microsoft products and technologies.

There are various steps towards obtaining Microsoft certification. Firstly, one should decide which Microsoft certification is correct for the person. As Microsoft offers a vast variety of professions within the IT industry one should understand which course would be the best for him. One should also get handy with the Microsoft products, which can be done only after working in the IT industry. Experience should be expanded with training by taking advantage of the training resources.

For obtaining Microsoft certification, it is also better to know what to expect in the exam. Previous question papers or taking consultation from those who have appeared or cleared the test is always a good choice. Taking helps from the help guides for Microsoft certification exams is also an added advantage. These help provide guidelines and suggestions to the person appearing for the exam. It is also suggested to take trial tests before appearing for the final exam. The test center should be selected from the worldwide locations. Also certain details like area of study, testing program and region etc should be mentioned.

Even after polishing our skills set Microsoft certification provides other specific advantages. They are like the recognition of our knowledge and proficiency in the industry. One can also be accessed as MCP member on the websites and can obtain various offers and discounts on products and services. One can also get career information and simultaneously get invitations to conferences, special events and training sessions.

A Microsoft certification shows technical leadership over other peers as well as ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for any organizations or clients.

James Croydon, Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE Online Certification advisor - focusing on MCSE Study and MCSE Training

Network Certification Exam Tutorial: An Introduction To Backup Types

Fault tolerance isn't fault invulnerability. No matter how hard we work to avoid single points of failure, sooner or later something catastrophic will happen to a part of our network. Don't get me wrong, I'm no pessimist - quite the opposite! But part of being a world-class network manager is having a disaster recovery plan in place, and in place before disaster strikes. It doesn't do you any good to implement a data backup strategy after data is lost!

I bring that point up because having a sound backup system in place is a vital part of administering a network. If an email server in your network right now, would you have a backup to restore as much data as possible? Take it from me -- you better.

It's rare to find a network that has no backup system in place, but whether that system is current is often another matter. Personally, I've visited networks where they had a tape drive right there in the server room, with tapes right next to it, and no system in place. Everyone thought someone else was supposed to be handling it (or hoped someone else was), the tapes had no dates, etc. That's exactly where you and I do not want to be.

Part of developing a data backup strategy is deciding how often to run backups, and what kind of backups to run. It's not always feasible to back up all data on every single server every single night. Let's look at the different backup types and exactly what gets backed up when they're run.

Files have an archive bit that indicates whether the file has been changed since the last backup ran. When a file is backed up, this bit is set to "off". When a new file is created or an old file's contents are altered, this bit is set to "on". Keep this archive bit in mind during the following discussion.

A full backup is just what it sounds like. All files are backed up, regardless of the archive bit setting. That's the easy one. Watch these next two. :) The difference is subtle, but significant.

An incremental backup backs up all files created or changed since the last backup of any kind. Every single file with the archive bit set to "on" is backed up.

A differential backup backs up everything that is different -- that is, all files created or changed -- since the last full backup only.

Now you may be thinking, "What in the heck do we need both of those for? What's the real difference?" Believe it or not, this wasn't developed just to make your Network+ exam harder. It just seems that way!

Your choice of backups depends largely on the amount of time you have to run your backups and how much data will have to be stored. Many network administrators choose to run full backups only on weekends and either incremental or differential backups during the week.

One network I was the admin for had this backup schedule:

Every Sunday - full

Every Tuesday - incremental

Every Thursday - incremental

I was lucky enough to never have to use the backups, but let's say that on Saturday morning, a drive went bad. Since I used incremental backups, I needed the last full backup and both of the incremental backups. If I had run differential backups, I would have needed only the last full backup and the last differential backup.

The type of backups your network will run really depends on three factors:

the amount of data to be backed up

the capacity of the backup media

the time available for the backup

If you can run full backups every night, great; if you can't, differential backups are a great middle ground between full and incremental backups. The important thing is that you do run them!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 100 free CCNA exam and Network + tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, Ultimate Network+ Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and twice-daily CCNA, Network+, and CCNP certification exam practice questions! Details are on the website. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! And now, you can earn your Security + certification from The Bryant Advantage!

Free CCNA Study Guides

The CCNA certification (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is a certification that indicates a foundation in and apprentice knowledge of networking. CCNA certified professionals can install, configure, and operate LAN, WAN, and dial access services for small networks (100 nodes or fewer) including (but not limited to) the use of protocols such as IP, IGRP, serial, frame relay, IP RIP, VLANs, RIP, Ethernet, and access lists. There are no prerequisites that are required for a CCNA certification.

There are two options available for CCNA certification: 640-801 CCNA or 640-821 INTRO combined with 640-811 ICND. The 640-801 single exam option is the most popular route for earning the CCNA certification; however, a two-exam option has been introduced by Cisco since 2003.

There are several free CCNA study guides available on the market. Most of these sites provide free tutorials and study notes. While some sites provide free practice exams for CCNA, others include a section on tips for studying articles and tips and suggestions on how to get the maximum out of the studying time. Also, people residing in the U.S. or Canada can also get a completely free subscription to many computer magazines that can help them further in preparing for these exams.

Some of the best free guides include notes on topics such as Cisco three layered hierarchical model, cabling Cisco devices, and selecting Cisco products. The interactive tutorials explain the key concepts in a concise and easy-to-read language.

Generally, each course includes a pre-assessment, course map, and post-assessment module. The course covers topics such as sub-netting, layered communication models (OSI, TCP/IP & Cisco), IP addressing, and hex and binary.

Some free study centers not only include free study guides for CCNA but also provide interactive networking tools such as a sub-netting calculator and real IP address catcher for better understanding of networking concepts.

These free study guides are proven to be a good stepping stone towards preparation for the CCNA exams; it should be the first step of CCNA aspirants towards the certification.

CCNA provides detailed information on CCNA, CCNA Certifications, CCNA Exams, CCNA Training and more. CCNA is affiliated with Fiber Optics Training.

Cisco CCNP Certification Exam Tutorial: Making The Most Of Cisco's CCNP Program Changes

As you probably know by now, Cisco's making some sweeping changes in their Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) program. Two longtime exams are being retired at the end of the year, two are being revised, and two new exams will be making their debut in late 2006.

If you're currently working on the CCNP or even thinking about it, the one thing you must NOT do is postpone your studies. On occasion, some certification exam candidates postpone their studies when they hear of an exam change. Cisco has announced these CCNP changes well ahead of time, and you've got plenty of time to pass some CCNP exams by the end of the year - and they still count toward the CCNP!

Let's take an exam-by-exam look at the current and future CCNP programs.

The BSCI exam is being updated, with the current exam being retired at the end of 2006.

The BCMSN exam is being updated, with the current exam being retired at the end of 2006.

The BCRAN exam is being retired at the end of 2006, and it will be replaced by the Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (642-825) exam.

The CIT exam is being retired at the end of 2006, and it will be replaced by the Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (642-845) exam.

Any CCNP certification exam you take by the end of 2006 does count toward your CCNP, so there is no reason to postpone your studies. You never get anywhere by waiting!

The one thing you can't do is take the current exam version and then take the new one and have both count toward the CCNP. The CCNP has a three-exam path and a four-exam path, and here are the four exam qualifications you must fulfill to become a CCNP with the four-exam path:

Current BSCI (642-801) or Revised BSCI (642-901)

Current BCMSN (642-811) or Revised BCMSN (642-812)

Current BCRAN (642-821) or New ISCW (642-825)

Current CIT (642-831) or New ONT (642-845)

If your choose the three-exam path, just replace the first two exams shown above with the current Composite exam (642-891) or revised Composite exam (642-892). Cisco expects to release the revised Composite exam in November 2006.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 100 free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, Ultimate Network+ Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and twice-daily CCNA, Network+, and CCNP certification exam practice questions! Details are on the website. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! And now, you can earn your Network+ certification from The Bryant Advantage!