Troubleshooting Campus Networks

Author: Priscilla Oppenheimer and Joseph Bardwell

ISBN: 0471210137

Target Audience: If you are a networking professional and you want to understand the internal workings of communication protocols on your network, this is the right book for you. Both the regular protocol analyzer user and the network engineer responsible for software or hardware support will find a wealth of information concerning protocol behavior and Cisco router and switch configuration.

General Topic: Troubleshooting And Analyzing Protocols Used At A Corporate Site (Campus)

Technical Topics: The book covers the operation of the major TCP/IP protocols, Windows networking (including NetBIOS, NT, and Win2K protocols), NetWare, and AppleTalk. Operation over Ethernet and 802.11 wireless networks are considered along with the engineering fundamentals for those infrastructures. Each chapter includes protocol analysis examples, guidelines, and methodology as well as a section focusing on the specific configuration and optimization of Cisco equipment.

Chapter 1: Introduction The introduction includes a discussion of the NAX and Cisco certification programs and how the book can be used as part of the preparation process.

Chapter 2: Troubleshooting Methods Using the OSI Reference Model as a basis, this chapter presents a systematic troubleshooting methodology for network analysis. Included are discussions of switched network analysis, Cisco router infrastructure analysis, and the application of protocol analysis tools like EtherPeek to the process of documentation and troubleshooting. The distinctions between various communication architectures (Terminal/Host, Client/Server, Peer-to-Peer, etc.) are described along with the different approaches used for analysis and troubleshooting in each architectural implementation. This chapter also includes a discussion of common troubleshooting utilities (Ping, Trace-Route, etc.) along with the Cisco IOS commands that are relevant to the troubleshooting process.

Chapter 3: Troubleshooting and Analyzing Ethernet Networks The history and engineering fundamentals of Ethernet networking are presented with a strong emphasis on applying fundamental concepts to real-world network analysis. Not only does this chapter discuss Ethernet signaling and physical layer issues but the Ethernet-specific frame formats and field definitions are presented in the context of network analysis. Included are discussions of VLAN implementation and the Cisco commands used to configure and assess VLAN infrastructures.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting and Analyzing IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks The operation and underlying engineering topics associated with 802.11 Wireless networking are explained in clear terms along with the concerns that should be addressed when designing a wireless network. Numerous examples, using the AiroPeek wireless network analyzer, help show how the information exchanged during the 802.11-specific aspects of WLAN communication can be used to analyze and troubleshoot a wireless environment. This chapter explains the math concepts that go into understanding the decibel and dBm measurements and how signal gain and loss calculations apply to a wireless site survey. The wireless issues related to free space path loss (and the impact of environmental factors in altering the free space propagation characteristics of a signal) are explained. All of the fields in the 802.11 MAC header are discussed and explained.

Chapter 5: Troubleshooting and Analyzing the Spanning Tree Protocol As its title implies, this chapter discusses the nuances of meshed switch architectures and the analysis of the protocols used to implement the Layer 2 spanning tree to prevent loops. A detailed discussion of root port election and the analysis of 802.1d BPDU traffic is coupled with an explanation of the Cisco configuration and management commands used to control the Spanning Tree process.

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting and Analyzing Virtual LANs VLAN design, implementation (using Cisco ISL and 802.1Q and 802.1P), and the analysis of tagged VLAN traffic using EtherPeek is explained in Chapter 6.

Chapter 7: Troubleshooting and Analyzing Campus IP Networks A "campus" network is one that is located at a single corporate site (a corporate "campus"). Chapter 7 discusses the operation of Internet Protocol in the routed infrastructure present in a typical campus environment. Included is a detailed discussion of each field in the IP header, IP Fragmentation and Reassembley, the IP Flags, and the IP Options. Analysis and troubleshooting in a NAT envrionment is described. In addition to IPv4 this chapter discusses the details of IPv6 as implemented in Internet II.

Chapter 8: Troubleshooting and Analyzing Campus IP Routing Protocols Cisco's Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) is discussed and techniques for assessing and analyzing HSRP are included. Both static and dynamic routing configurations are described in this chapter and the Distance-Vector or Link-State algorithms and associated routing protocols (RIP, RIPv2, OSPF, EIGRP and BGP) are explained. OSPF Adjacency is discussed in the context of both the Cisco IOS configuration and control commands, and the protocol analysis of a routed infrastructure.

Chapter 9: Troubleshooting and Analyzing TCP, UDP, and Upper-Layer IP Protocols This chapter provides a detailed discussion of TCP protocol analysis including sequence number analysis, Slow Start, Delayed Acks, Zero Window, Stuck Window, and performance-related issues. The assessment of Upper Layer protocols includes: DNS, HTTP, SLP, FTP, SMTP, and POP3

Chapter 10: Troubleshooting and Analyzing Campus IPX Networks Novell's IPX and NCP are described from both the protocol analysis as well as the Cisco router configuration standpoint. The reader will be shown how the variety of possible Ethernet frame formats used in the NetWare environment can impact performance. The issue of Watchdog Spoofing is discussed and NLSP is described (again, from both the analyzer viewpoint and the Cisco viewpoint.)

Chapter 11: Troubleshooting and Analyzing Campus AppleTalk Networks This chapter provides an excellent discussion of the Apple networking environment from concept to implementation. The reader is shown how the Apple network protocols relate to the OSI Reference Model and how they are configured using Cisco routers. AARP and Dynamic Addressing is explained. This chapter includes: DDP, NBP, AFP, and AFP over TCP (AppleShare IP). Apple's ZIP, AURP, and the integration of EIGRP and AppleTalk are discussed. A discussion of Mac OS X, WebDAV, and SLP is included.

Chapter 12: Troubleshooting and Analyzing Windows Networking Protocol behavior and specific architectural distinctions in the Windows Peer-to-Peer, NT Domain, and Windows 2000 environments are described in great detail. This chapter is one of the few places where a concise discussion of Windows network protocol analysis can be found among the plethora of computer technology books in the marketplace. Along with a detailed explanation of how NetBIOS is used as the carrier for SMB in the Windows environment the chapter details how NetBIOS naming has come to impact Windows network implementations across the broad spectrum of MicroSoft implementations. Included are: WINS, Authentication, Browsing and the Browser protocol operation, and the integration between classic and Windows 2000 networks.

Chapter 13: WAN Troubleshooting for LAN Engineers In today's complex network environment it's hard to find a large network that doesn't include some degree of WAN interconnectivity between individual corporate campus sites. Chapter 13 explains basic WAN operation from the perspective of LAN-to-LAN communication. The chapter includes a discussion of WAN standards and components, troubleshooting issues relevant to the LAN administrator or engineer, HDLC analysis from the Cisco router console, router provisioning for capacity management, and the implementation of PPP. Also included are discussions of: Frame Relay, ISDN, and ATM.

Why We Like It: Why? You guessed it, another of WildPackets own receives rave reviews from Amazon buyers, this time our own Vice President of Professional Services!

“The Ethernet and Wireless chapters are very interesting and helpful. So is the IP chapter. The details are explained very well and will help me pass the Cisco Support test. This books has helped me for understanding a problem on my Windows NT network too. Get this book. It's good.”

“Priscilla Oppenheimer and partner Joe Bardwell are outstanding writers. Nowhere did I find myself scratching my head and wondering what I was missing. This is clearly an excellent book. It contains the kind of detail one needs in study and in life with real networks. Good information and good advice abound.”

“Troubleshooting Campus Networks is a keeper, a book that will occupy a place of honor on my bookshelf - right next to Cil's other book Top Down Network Design!!!!!”

“The book's style is also very clear and understandable. It passes my ultimate test: I can read it at 10-11 PM at night without falling asleep! Almost all of the formulas and binary are made accessible to those with high-school math skills. The book stays focused and contains references to other sources for details that aren't need-to-know or interesting.”