Book Recommendations

Jun 30, 2007 6 Replies

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James.Brown 19 years ago

All,

I have recently moved into a new job-role, working in the Network Support and Engineering team. I have a CCNA, a few years of experience in the Windows and Linux world, but quite frankly, the sight of a Cisco config scares me! Could anyone recommend some books to ease the pain please?

The company has a large IP network, with IPSec/GRE VPNs, Multicast, Layer 3 switching, Catalyst 6500 switches running CatOS or IOS with BGP and EIGRP routing protocols.

Can anyone recommend any books to get me started please? I need to refresh my knowledge on the basics, plus get started on IOS/CatOS upgrades, VLAN interfaces, VPN tunnels, EIGRP and BGP.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

All the best,

James.

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stephen 19 years ago

The books covering the certifications tend to cover a lot of ground - try looking for the CCNP course books.

most are published by Cisco Press with lots of alternates,

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- but i find they are cheaper and quicker via Amazon.

CatOS and IOS on the chassis switches are covered in the best practice guides. Try starting at the doc pages:

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i think the best practice guides are there in the "most popular" bit.

at least all the cisco docs tend to be on line - if you can find them.....

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support, docs should get you started.

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Wayne 19 years ago

I picked up the O'Reilly IOS In A Nutshell by James Boney when I was getting started, I still refer to it from time to time. The 2nd edition came out on

2005, hopefully there will be a 3rd edition soon.

Some people like the O'Reilly style, some don't.

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Dana 19 years ago

I thought you mentioned you had your CCNA. As for books. The Cisco documnetation site is just a wealth of excellent documents.

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BernieM 19 years ago

Get to know the 6500 series white papers site ..

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Mike 19 years ago

I actually like the IOS Cookbook a lot. For more complex stuff, Cisco.com is a wealth of information. But if you're looking for something hard-copy with straight forward explanations of the stuff you do every day, this book is great.

Also if "quite frankly, the sight of a Cisco config scares me!", I highly suggest you set up a lab at home or at work. You can get 2600s pretty cheap off ebay, 1600s I'm sure people just throw out. A new

871 isnt even that much. Use them at home, until they bore you and you want something with a spiffier feature set.

-Mike

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James.Brown 19 years ago

All,

Thanks very much for the recommendations. I will have a look at the IOS In A Nutshell and IOS Cookbooks from O'Reilly.

-James.

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