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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.”
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