Designing Cisco Networks

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 803 pages
• Published by: Cisco Press
• Edition: 1st Edition August 15, 1999
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1578701058
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1578701056
• Book Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 2.1 inches
• Weighs: 3.7 pounds

Product Review
A typical entry in Cisco's Certification Training Series, Designing Cisco Networks is jammed with good technology and business information. Intended as an accompaniment to an eponymous course that is part of the Cisco Certified Design Associate certificate program, the book's goal is to provide a blueprint for designing networks for small and medium-size companies. And it does a good job of that, even though it's never clear how the editor, the technical reviewers, or Cisco define that particular market segment.

Because the authors assume a fairly sophisticated level of networking knowledge, they buzz through the basics--technologies, protocols, and devices--in the first chapter. This section, and the rest of the book for that matter, is characterized by pithy phrasing that leaves no room for interpretation, which is a blessing for this type of publication. For example, local area networks (LANs) are given these attributes: "fast, belongs to you, is there all the time."

Later sections deal with the steps involved in characterizing an existing network and determining how to update it for the customer's needs. Obvious but good points are made, such as identifying technological and business-related bottlenecks. In addition, readers are pointed to a series of tools, such as NetFlow and CiscoWorks, that can help with network assessment and design. From there, the inner workings of developing a network technology are explored, as is the challenge of figuring out which protocols, devices, and management tools and strategies make the most sense for the environment. Case studies and sample CCDA test questions are woven throughout the book, and it wraps up with 12 appendices on topics such as PIX firewalls and DNS spoofing, plus a glossary. --Sarah L. Roberts-Witt

Book Description


Cisco authorized self-study book for CCDA foundation learning

• Prepare for CCDA certification while mastering the network design process
• Learn to characterize existing networks and determine new customer requirements
• Develop appropriate network topologies for various environments
• Design device naming schemes and IP and IPX addressing schemes
• Understand how to select the best routing and bridging protocols and provision software features and hardware for LANs and WANs
• Learn how to create design documents and build prototypes and pilots
• Optimize your network with valuable information on PIX(r) firewalls, router performance, ISDN, and Windows(r) NT

Designing Cisco Networks is a Cisco authorized, self-paced learning tool for CCDA exam 640-441. It teaches you how to become proficient in network design methodologies. Created for those seeking to attain CCDA certification as well as networking professionals seeking an introduction to networking design concepts, this book focuses on small to medium-sized networks. It provides a step-by-step process to follow when designing internetworks to ensure that all important issues are considered, resulting in optimal network design. By using this book, you will be able to identify customer needs, design LAN and WAN network structures, create network management strategies, write design documents, and build and test prototypes and pilots.

Filled with case studies, procedures, charts, and checklists, Designing Cisco Networks will help you understand how to analyze and solve existing network problems while building a framework that supports the functionality, performance, and scalability required of any given environment. Self-assessment through exercises and chapter-ending tests starts you down the path for attaining your CCDA certification.

Designing Cisco Networks is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco Systems that can include simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press.

Reader Reviews
I read this book at least couple of times before appearing for the CCDA test. This book is all you need for the CCDA test. It gives you good understanding of network design basics and covers the test objectives completely. Highly recommened!! I am still looking for the Cisco DCN CD-ROM - Cisco just has a Japanese edition on their web site!! :-(