Introduction

Do you want to become a better and more efficient network engineer? If you answered yes to that question, then Cisco Networks: Engineers' Handbook of Routing, Switching, and Security with IOS, NX-OS, and ASA is for you. You will learn intermediate and advanced concepts of configuring, managing, and troubleshooting Cisco networks. Most chapters provide examples of configuring network devices and include exercises to reinforce the concepts that were covered. Each exercise also includes a step-by-step solution to the question, in the event you are not able to solve the problem.

This book is meant to be a configuration guide, not geared toward certifications, with an emphasis on solving real-world day-to-day challenges. Although this book is not focused on certifications, readers will learn the skills and concepts needed to pass Cisco CCENT, CCNA, and CCNP certification exams. Readers will also learn how to build and configure at-home labs using virtual machines and lab exercises to practice advanced Cisco commands.

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 such tools as oclHashcat, Loki, Burp Suite, Scapy, Metasploit, and Kali to actually test the security concepts learned. The book combines a black-hat perspective that most network engineers have a disconnect with unless they are network penetration testers. Cisco Networks not only discusses security but also provides the how-to on using the black-hat tools for network security testing.

The goal of this book is to eliminate the need to have three or four books in your library. The book covers commands related to Cisco IOS, NX-OS for datacenter installations, and ASA configurations. If you are a network engineer, or aspiring to be one, this book is for you.

Now on to Chapter 1.