Managing IP Networks with Cisco Routers

Routers are the glue that connects the pieces of your network. Even in the simplest networks, this isn't a simple task. Routers have evolved into highly specialized computing platforms, with extremely flexible but complex capabilities.Managing IP Networks with Cisco Routers is a practical guide to setting up and maintaining a production network. It discusses issues like how to select routing protocols and how to configure protocols to handle most common situations. It also discusses less esoteric but equally important issues like 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 you choose.

This book is firmly grounded in the realities of day-to-day network management. It's designed to solve real-world problems, like: "How do I prevent my router from using unreliable information from other routers?" "How do I safeguard my router against attacks?" "How can I make my network more reliable?" If you're building or maintaining an IP network, you'll find this book indispensable.

Topics covered include:

• Designing an IP network
• Evaluating equipment and vendors
• Selecting routing protocols
• Configuring common interior protocols (RIP, OSPF, EIGRP)
• Connecting to external networks and configuring exterior protocols (BGP)
• Ongoing network management: troubleshooting and maintenance
• Security and privacy issues

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

1. Configuring Interfaces
2. Where And How To Get New RFCs
3. Obtaining Internet Drafts
4. Obtaining IP Addresses

If you have Cisco routers, you want this. In fact, if you have routers, you'll probably benefit from it.