This is the second edition of CCIE Fundamentals: Network Design and Case Studies, originally published in May 1998. Along with new content developed by Cisco Press authors, this publication is derived from two existing publications created by Cisco Systems: Internetwork Design Guide and Internetworking Case Studies. These publications evolved over the course of several years to provide a comprehensive collection of configuration scenarios and design recommendations tailored to the needs of the experienced internetworking specialist. Cisco Press has culled material from these publications to provide a primer covering many of the technologies and typical implementations encountered by professionals preparing for Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) candidacy.
Although the material provided in this publication was not developed with the specific intent of helping professionals achieve CCIE status, it has been used as a foundation guide by many CCIE candidates. It is one in a series of books that Cisco Press is delivering to prepare IS professionals who are working toward CCIE program completion.
The original Cisco publications, Internetwork Design Guide and Internetworking Case Studies, were developed over a period of several years by Andrea Cheek, H. Kim Lew, and Kathleen Wallace. Paula Delay, Donna Kidder, and Diantha Pinner integrated new material into the Internetwork Design Guide in the most recent update. An array of subject-matter experts and editors contributed to the development of the two source publications during their parallel evolution toward this combined product. Contributors included Rick Fairweather, Bill Kelly, Bill Miskovetz, Morgan Littlewood, Jeff Baher, Jim Grubb, Terri Quinn-Andry, Steve Spanier, Bob Deutsch, Paulina Knibbe, Adrien Fournier, Kris Thompson, Stuart Hamilton, Phil Byrnes, Bruce Pinsky, Won Lee, George Murickan, Dianna Johansen, and Betsy Fitch. This material was originally assembled to help Cisco network implementers build scalable, reliable, and secure networks. It is with this same intent that Cisco Press brings the combined publication CCIE Fundamentals: Network Design and Case Studies, Second Edition to the general networking community.
The objective of this publication is to help you identify and implement practical networking strategies that are flexible enough to fit a variety of situations and that can also scale as your network requirements change.
Part I, "Network Design," provides a set of general guidelines for planning networks and specific suggestions for several key networking implementations. Part I focuses on identifying the essential technologies and appropriate implementations for specific environments.
Part II, "Network Case Studies," provides practical examples illustrating how you can implement Cisco Systems software features. Case studies address implementation concerns and show how to apply features. Detailed configuration file examples and network diagrams are included.
Part III, "Appendixes," offers nine appendixes as additional reference material that supplements the chapters in the book.
This collection of design tips and configuration examples is by no means the final word in network design. Do not try to use this as a step-by-step handbook for designing every facet of your network. Instead, use this publication as a reference to help you identify features and capabilities of routers and switches that meet specific networking requirements.
The design guide portion of this publication is intended to support the network administrator who designs and implements router- or switched-based networks. The case study portion of the publication is designed for a similar audience, but focuses on showing practical examples of how to apply Cisco features to meet networking needs. Readers should know how to configure a Cisco router and should be familiar with the protocols and media that their routers have been configured to support.
This publication uses a number of conventions. Command syntax descriptions use these conventions:
Commands and keywords are in boldface font.
Variable arguments for which you supply values are in italic font.
Elements in square brackets ([ ]) are optional.
Alternative keywords are separated by vertical bars (|).
Examples use these conventions:
Examples that contain system prompts denote interactive sessions, indicating that the user enters commands at the prompt. The system prompt indicates the current command mode. For example, the prompt router(config)# indicates global configuration mode.
Terminal sessions, configurations, and information the system displays are in
screenfont.User input display commands are in
boldfacescreenfont.Modified configurations show new commands in
boldfacescreenfont.Exclamation points (!) at the beginning of a line indicate a comment line.
Cisco's efforts to facilitate the creation of competent network operations center (NOC) and information systems (IS) staff is exemplified in its CCIE program. To support these efforts, Cisco Press works closely with CCIE program management to create information products that help build the knowledge and expertise of NOC and IS professionals supporting Cisco-based networks. As of this writing, there are three CCIE program certifications:
WAN Switching
ISP
Routing and Switching
It is likely that as the networking landscape evolves, the program will evolve to meet the changing needs of networking professionals. It is the intent of Cisco Press to coordinate its efforts to synchronize with changes in the CCIE program. The brief discussions that follow provide an overview of the CCIE program and lab tests and a summary of plans for additional products from Cisco Press that are intended to support CCIE programs.
You can obtain details about the CCIE program directly from Cisco's World Wide Web presence at http://www.cisco.com/go/ccie.
In becoming the definitive network certification program for Cisco network professionals, the CCIE program provides the following:
A definition of "expert-level" technical knowledge and skill
State-of-the-art methods to evaluate this knowledge and skill
Enhanced services targeting the needs of these "best-in-class" engineers
Achieving CCIE status denotes proficiency in supporting diverse networks that use routing, bridging, and switching technologies. By passing Cisco's rigorous assessment process, your organization or customers will know that you have passed strict testing and hands-on skill evaluations.
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert program certifies individuals, not companies. If you move to another company, your status remains with you as long as you adhere to the program requirements and maintain your certification.
Networking experts agree that written evaluations alone cannot adequately measure an individual's ability to design, implement, or solve problems in a dynamic network.
Proper evaluation of these skills must include hands-on execution that is observed and quantified by a networking expert. Cisco has taken this concept to heart by creating the CCIE Certification Lab. Candidates are required to demonstrate competency by
Building, configuring, and testing complex networks to provided specifications
Diagnosing and resolving media, transport, and session problems
Isolating application layer problems
Using packet/frame analysis and Cisco debugging tools
Documenting and reporting the problem-solving processes used
Candidates are evaluated individually by a senior CCIE networking engineer acting as the lab administrator. Cisco's intent is to make the CCIE Certification Lab as realistic as possible. The lab assessment is currently two full days in length and includes homework.
The CCIE candidate is presented with a complex design to implement from the physical layer through logical configuration. Candidates are not required to configure any end-user systems, but are responsible for any device residing in the network, including hubs, MAUs, DSU/CSU, and so on. Network specifics, point values, and testing criteria used to assess correctness of the individual configurations are provided.
Upon completion of the implementation, the lab engineer will insert faults in the candidate's network. The candidate must recognize, isolate, document, and resolve each fault. Additionally, the candidate will be required to outline the proper reporting procedures when dealing with the Cisco TAC.
Each configuration scenario and problem has pre-assigned point values. The candidate will strive to gain a minimum aggregate of 80% to pass.
In close coordination with the Cisco CCIE program team, Cisco Press is creating a series of preparation materials aimed at providing up-to-date, accurate information on technologies addressed in the CCIE program. Two basic sets of materials will be developed for distribution via Cisco Press:
CCIE Professional Development Series
Based on CCIE program guidelines from Cisco. This series will be presented as a set of technology-specific volumes.
Cisco Certification Courseware Series
Based on the Cisco-developed Introduction to Cisco Router Configuration (ICRC), Advanced Cisco Router Configuration (ACRC), and other key implementation-oriented courses, this series will present course material provided in recommended Cisco-developed, instructor-led classes.
Cisco Systems and Cisco Press make no claims that individual readers will pass any part of CCIE Qualification (Sylvan) tests or CCIE labs. Material presented in Cisco Press publications is not intended to be construed as a replacement for either recommended in-class training or the recommended two years of internetworking field experience. All material is offered as is. Cisco Systems and Cisco Press make no claims as to the effectiveness of information presented.