Course Overview
Cisco routers are used to provide reliable and efficient corporate-wide internetwork solutions. In order to successfully deploy Cisco routers and switches, networking professionals require a thorough understanding of their features and functions.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to deploying Cisco devices in an internetworked environment. Through extensive hands-on exercises, you gain the fundamental knowledge and skills you need to install, configure and troubleshoot Cisco routers.
Audience
This course is valuable for network managers, technicians, consultants and designers who are involved in supporting, implementing and designing internetworks with Cisco routers. Familiarity with basic internetworking concepts at the level of Course 364, " Introduction to Switches and Routers ", is assumed.
Skills Gained
- Successfully install and configure Cisco routers and switches to build internetworks
- Create Cisco device configurations from scratch
- Configure IP routing protocols
- Troubleshoot complex IP routing problems
- Perform software and hardware upgrades
- Effectively manage and maintain Cisco routers with SNMP
Course Outline
Introduction and Overview
Internetworking fundamentals
- Internetworking terminology
- Protocol layering
- Routing vs. bridging
Cisco hardware/software architecture
- Distribution and core routers
- Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) versions and licensing
- Addressing Cisco security vulnerabilities
Setting Up the Router
Accessing and controlling routers
- Console and AUX ports
- Remote and TFTP configuration
The Cisco bootstrap sequence
- Setting the configuration register
- Using the start-up configuration dialogue
Creating configuration files
- Selecting a configuration mode: global, interface, router or line
- IOS editing and help features
Implementing IP Routing
Initiating the basic IP configuration
- Assigning IP addresses and subnet masks
- Implementing access lists for enhanced security
The IP routing process
- Selecting a routing protocol
- Monitoring and maintaining routing tables
- Configuring RIP V1, RIP V2, EIGRP, OSPF
IP Routing Protocols
Review of routing concepts
- Distance Vector and Link State routing
- Evaluating routing metrics
- Configuring Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
- Differentiating between RIP V1 and V2
- Tailoring RIP V2 address summarisation and authentication
- Deploying Cisco Enhanced Interior Gateway Protocol (EIGRP)
- Transitioning to an OSPF single area network topology
Routing interaction issues
- Implementing static routes
- Route redistribution
Configuring Interface Parameters
Local area networks
- Ethernet
- Port speed
- Duplex settings
Wide area networks
- Leased lines
- ISDN
- Frame relay
- ATM
- Setting up ISDN dial-on-demand and dial backup
Troubleshooting Cisco Routers
Maintaining router operations
- Analysing interface problems
- Finding and resolving IP routing errors with extended pingand trace
- Fixing misconfigurations
- Leveraging ICMP and Cisco debug commands
- Validating Layer 2 connectivity with Cisco Discovery Protocol
Cisco Information Online
- Exploiting the Cisco documentation
- Contacting the Technical Assistance Center (TAC)
Applying Cisco Switches for LAN Connectivity
Switch theory of operation
- Preventing loops using Spanning Tree
- Controlling root switch selection
Working with VLANs
- Executing VLAN configuration
- Managing VLAN trunk lines
- ISL and 802.1Q trunks
- Routing between VLANs
Maintaining and Upgrading Cisco Routers
Planning software upgrades
- Selecting and testing the new IOS release
- Loading the new IOS images
- Recovering a corrupt IOS from the ROMMON prompt
Installing hardware upgrades
- Planning a hardware maintenance strategy
- Replacing boot ROMs
- Adding RAM and flash memory
Administering routers
- Securing router access
- Defining local access strings
- Harnessing TACACS+ to authenticate and monitor users
- Recovering lost passwords
- Backing up config files and router images
SNMP and management tools
- Exploiting Cisco's proprietary MIB
- Analysing router performance