Cisco Networks: Engineers' Handbook of Routing, Switching, and Security with IOS, NX-OS, and ASA

This book is a concise one-stop desk reference and synopsis of basic knowledge and skills for Cisco certification prep. For beginning and experienced network engineers tasked with building LAN, WAN, and data center connections, this book lays out clear directions for installing, configuring, and troubleshooting networks with Cisco devices. The full range of certification topics is covered, including all aspects of IOS, NX-OS, and ASA software. The emphasis throughout is on solving the real-world challenges engineers face in configuring network devices, rather than on exhaustive descriptions of hardware features.

This practical desk companion doubles as a comprehensive overview of the basic knowledge and skills needed by CCENT, CCNA, and CCNP exam takers. It distills a comprehensive library of cheat sheets, lab configurations, and advanced commands that the authors assembled as senior network engineers for the benefit of junior engineers they train, mentor on the job, and prepare for Cisco certification exams. Prior familiarity with Cisco routing and switching is desirable but not necessary, as Chris Carthern, Dr. Will Wilson, Noel Rivera, and Richard Bedwell start their book with a review of the basics of configuring routers and switches. All the more advanced chapters have labs and exercises to reinforce the concepts learned.

This book differentiates itself from other Cisco books on the market by approaching network security from a hacker’s perspective. Not only does it provide network security recommendations but it teaches you how to use black-hat tools such as oclHashcat, Loki, Burp Suite, Scapy, Metasploit, and Kali to actually test the security concepts learned.

Readers of Cisco Networks will learn

• How to configure Cisco switches, routers, and data center devices in typical corporate network architectures
• The skills and knowledge needed to pass Cisco CCENT, CCNA, and CCNP certification exams
• How to set up and configure at-home labs using virtual machines and lab exercises in the book to practice advanced Cisco commands
• How to implement networks of Cisco devices supporting WAN, LAN, and data center configurations
• How to implement secure network configurations and configure the Cisco ASA firewall
• How to use black-hat tools and network penetration techniques to test the security of your network

About the Authors

Chris Carthern (CCNP, CISSP) is a senior network engineer for the United States Department of Defense. He is responsible for analyzing, designing, installing, configuring, maintaining, and repairing of Cisco network infrastructure and application components and for training and mentoring junior network engineers and preparing them for Cisco CCNP and CISSP certification exams. Carthern took his BS (honors) in computer science from Morehouse College and his MS in system engineering from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). He holds the following certifications: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA Security+, Brocade Certified Network Professional (BNCP), and ITIL v3.

William Wilson is a senior network engineer with 20 years of information technology experience. He is responsible for design, implementation, and maintenance of campus, WAN, and data center networks. William completed his undergraduate degree in Mathematics at University of Colorado, and obtained his MS and doctoral degrees in computer science from Colorado Technical University. He holds the following certifications: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA Security+, CompTIA A+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), and Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA). He passed the written portion of the CCIE certification and he is studying for the practical lab component.

Richard Bedwell (CCNP, CCDP, JNCIS) has worked for the US Department of Defense for more than 10 years, supporting network administration, security, and engineering in multiple environments and locations throughout the world. He has provided maintenance, configuration, operational support, and engineering in voice, video, and data networks using multiple vender solutions for LAN, CAN, MAN, and WAN networks, primarily using Cisco Devices. Richard has a degree in business administration (BA), with a focus on Management Information Systems (MIS), from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. He holds the following certifications: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CCNA Voice, CCNA Security, CCNA Wireless, Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP), CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Security+ CE, Juniper Network Certified Internet Specialist (JNCIS), and ITILv3 Foundations.

Noel Rivera is an IP lead analyst at CACI International, Inc. He was formerly a network systems engineer at Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defense. Rivera has a bachelor's degree in electrical and computing engineering from the University of Puerto Rico—Mayaguez, and master's degrees in electrical, electronics and communications engineering and in computer science, both from John Hopkins University. He holds the following certifications: Cisco Certified Network Professional Routing and Switching/Security (CCNP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), VMWare Certified Professional 5—Data Center Visualization (VCP5-DC), CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP), and Cisco ASA Specialist.