VTP Client Mode – It Can Still Wipe Out Your VTP Server!

One thing that I noticed while studying for the SWITCH exam is that VTP sections always skip a very important note about how VTP can cause a lot of trouble. A lot of folks including me don't use VTP unless we've been told we have to. But the fact still remains it's on our Cisco exams, it has to be explored and that exploration can lead to some of us deploying it. That's why we go and learn about this stuff, to roll it out into production if it makes sense. So from what we all read and experience, choose . . . → Read More: VTP Client Mode – It Can Still Wipe Out Your VTP Server!

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Sharing is Caring – Simple Inter-VLAN Routing Lab, But Core Knowledge..

Inter-VLAN Routing Lab Share

This is more or less a copy-n-paste from the post I made over at GNS3-labs.com

So this lab below is fairly easy, not much involved. In fact you could consider it an advanced CCNA switching lab. Call it what you like, but similar questions, labs and scenarios came up on the SWITCH exam when I took it.

Why am I posting it? Simple – as always to share labs! This is the first lab I’ve taken the time to save and compile with tasks and solutions in a long time. So I’m starting out with what is . . . → Read More: Sharing is Caring – Simple Inter-VLAN Routing Lab, But Core Knowledge..

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Don’t Worry – Be Happy, But Stay Hungry!

WARNING! Not a technical post! More a motivational note for myself

Just a post to update you all on what the heck I’m doing! There are so many great things I should be posting here, but boy it’s so hard to find the time to do it!

So how have you all been? I hope doing well and achieving your dreams and goals as planned for 2011. I’ve been on the slow and steady, but I’m still on the path.

I took the SWITCH exam this past September (2011) and I failed. I failed because I didn’t prepare properly, . . . → Read More: Don’t Worry – Be Happy, But Stay Hungry!

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Boson ExamSim and NetSim – CCNP SWITCH & TSHOOT Tools

Some time last year I was invited to demo @BosonSoftware CCNP TSHOOT ExSim-Max and NetSim. At the time, I wasn’t able to play with it too much. But the short time I did toy with it I was intrigued and decided (see here where I was contemplating the purchase) to invest in the SWITCH ExSim-Max right that moment since that’s what I’m currently working on. I wasn’t in full study mode cause it was the holidays, but we’re hoarders so it was a typical move for me; I knew I’d need it later. I also got 10% off the ExSim . . . → Read More: Boson ExamSim and NetSim – CCNP SWITCH & TSHOOT Tools

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SWITCH Study Notes – IP Telephony & Voice VLANs

Just loading up some more notes that I have laying around. I feel the right thing is to share them. Hope they help someone

Voice VLANs

With voice data the key factor is getting the voice traffic to its destination as quickly as possible in order to avoid jitter and unintelligible voice streams. (“jitter” occurs when there’s a delay in transmitting voice or video traffic, perhaps due to improper queueing.)

Switchports that have IP phones plugged into them can be configured 2 ways:

Trunk port: Gives the advantage of creating a voice VLAN that will carry nothing . . . → Read More: SWITCH Study Notes – IP Telephony & Voice VLANs

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SWITCH Study Notes – Multilayer Switching And Fault Tolerance

Multilayer Switching And Fault Tolerance

What Is Multilayer Switching?

Multilayer switches are devices that switch and route packets in the switch hardware itself. These switches can perform packet switching up to ten times as fast as a pure L3 router Cisco Catalyst switches perform hardware switching using a router processor or L3 engine Routing information is downloaded to the hardware itself Hardware-based switching happens using one of the following methods: Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) Newer method Multilayer Switching (MLS) ß Legacy Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) will perform the L2 rewriting operation of hardware switched packets. L2 rewriting process changes the . . . → Read More: SWITCH Study Notes – Multilayer Switching And Fault Tolerance

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Happy Holidays!! Wishing You All The Best in 2011!

Hey everyone! I’d like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season! I hope you begin the new year in the most positve way. I hope you all achieve the certs and goals you have set for yourself this year, but if not; 2011 is around the corner so get planning to accomplish them NOW!

I personally would like to thank may tweeps, bloggers and friends I’ve made over this past year – It’s been a blessing to have you all a part of my life even though it’s all over the internetz The encouragement, the quick pinging and replies . . . → Read More: Happy Holidays!! Wishing You All The Best in 2011!

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Getting a Quick Word In!

Wow! Where have I been? In short lets just say I’ve been having a spectacular time at the new employer! So much is going on, I’m learning so much and I’m thrilled at how much I’ve been able to do myself. Its been a little over a month now (started Oct. 4th) and I’ve been involved in some great changes, implementations and planning. I have yet to touch anything other than “the networks”. If you remember I was hired as a hybrid of some sort to span across supporting various technologies supported by my team. I ain’t complaining! My guess . . . → Read More: Getting a Quick Word In!

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Todo Tienes Su Final! Nada Dura Para Siempre!

The subject or name of this post is taken from a song created by Hector Lavoe. It’s a song he wrote and the they are the opening words to the song. If you didn’t know – I’m a dancer – Salsa dancer and I love my Salsa music .. Anyway .. It simply means ..

Todo Tienes Su Final! = Everything has an end.

Nada Dura Para Siempre! = Nothing lasts forever

Excellent song BTW! Check it out – Hector Lavoe – Todo Tiene Su Final

In my last post I mentioned that there was a lot going on. The . . . → Read More: Todo Tienes Su Final! Nada Dura Para Siempre!

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SWITCH Study Notes – Securing The Switches & Tunneling

Chapter 6 notes.. Chris Bryant’s (@ccie12933) BCMSN study guide!

Passwords

The enable password can be set using “enable password” or “enable secret” commands SW2(config)#enable password yourpassword SW2(config)#enable secret yoursecretpassword The “enable secret” command encrypts the password in the configuration without the “service password-encryption” command. The “enable secret” command supersedes the “enable password” command and this password will be used instead. All passwords appear in the configuration in clear text by default except the enable secret. The command service password-encryption will encrypt the remaining passwords. When configuring VTY lines be sure to enable “login” and set a password or else they . . . → Read More: SWITCH Study Notes – Securing The Switches & Tunneling

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