Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Next generation wireless local area networks'(WLANs) important features

  What are the most important features to look for in a next generation wireless local area network (WLAN)? Lisa Phifer explains in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• What is NAT, and how do I know if it's taking place on my network?

  In this Q&A, our expert explains the basics of NAT (Network Address Translation), where it occurs, and what it does.  Continue Reading

• Will WPA2-PSK keep wireless networks safe from war drivers?

  Will WPA2-PSK keep wireless networks safe from war drivers? Find out from network security expert Michael Gregg.  Continue Reading

• What are a TV tower's effects on your network?

  How will being next to a TV station tower affect your network? Find out in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• How to train intrusion detection systems (IDS)

  Learn how to train your intrusion detection systems (IDS) from network security expert Michael Gregg.  Continue Reading

• Differences between Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and bridging

  Learn the difference between Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and bridging between two NIC cards from networking fundamentals expert Chris Partsenidis.  Continue Reading

• How to know if you're connecting to fake or real access points (APs)

  With a wireless LAN hotspot, how do you know if you're connecting to a fake or real access point? Find out in this expert response with Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• How to debug poor WLAN performance

  Find out what the most important causes of poor WLAN performance are in this expert response with our wireless networking guru, Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• Why IPv4 and IPv6 don't do fragment reassembly in routers

  Learn why IPv4 does not do fragment reassembly at the next router and why this is even more important in IPv6.  Continue Reading

• Is time-to-live (TTL) thrown out in IPv6?

  Why is there time-to-live (TTL) in IPv4 but not in IPv6? Find out in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Where can I meet CCNA and CCNP candidates?

  Find out where you can network with other CCNA and CCNP candidates in this response from our Cisco certification expert, David Minutella.  Continue Reading

• Are there Cisco certifications specializing in IPv6 protocols?

  Learn about the Cisco certifications and PHD programs that specialize in IPv6 protocols, in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• NAC solution authentication fix for your wireless network

  Learn how to fix authentication issues when testing your NAC solutions with 802.11a/g wireless APs, in this Ask the Expert response.  Continue Reading

• Sample job interview questions to ask network administrators

  Find sample job interview questions to ask potential network administrators in this Ask the Expert with Lindi Horton.  Continue Reading

• Can users on my LAN view my computer from other machines?

  Learn how users on your LAN can view your machines from other computers in this response from network security expert Puneet Mehta.  Continue Reading

• How do I calculate the time taken for a file to be transferred over a WAN link?

  Calculate the time it will take for a file to transfer over a WAN link with the help of Dr. Hughes in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• What is basic difference between a router and a switch?

  What is basic difference between a router and a switch? Find out from routing and switching expert Sudhanshu Gupta.  Continue Reading

• What problems might we encounter moving to an all-wireless office?

  All-wireless offices can avoid the cost of pulling cables, but what problems should you expect? Learn from our wireless networking expert, Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• Can I connect to my wireless network and wired LAN simultaneously?

  Learn how to connect to a wireless network and wired LAN simultaneously in this troubleshooting advice from Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• LAN network design considerations

  Look at these LAN network design considerations from network administration expert Lindi Horton.  Continue Reading

• What is the maximum length of attenuation for twisted pair cables?

  Find out the industry standards for twisted pair cable length in this response from network infrastructure expert Carrie Higbie.  Continue Reading

• How do IP addresses work on Layer 2 switches?

  Learn how IP addresses work on Layer 2 switches from our networking fundamentals expert.  Continue Reading

• How do you design networks to allow for future growth?

  Use these steps to allow for enough future growth in your network design.  Continue Reading

• What is the procedure for assigning network addresses?

  Learn how to assign network addresses, and understand the difference between assigning IP addresses and assigning network addresses in this response.  Continue Reading

• How to compare router performance between vendors

  Learn how to compare router performance between different vendors in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Network device and local and remote server monitoring software

  Find recommended network monitoring software for local servers, network devices and remote services in this Ask the Expert with Lindi Horton.  Continue Reading

• How can I achieve auto-negotiations between my device and switches?

  Trying to troubleshoot a device on the network? Learn how to get managed switches (from Extreme and Cisco) to perform auto-negotiation with your devices, in this response from our switch expert.  Continue Reading

• How to set up access points for your wireless network

  Wireless network expert, Lisa Phifer teaches you how to set up access points (APs) to communicate with each other and share an Internet connection, in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• How do I troubleshoot wireless access points (APs) losing connectivity?

  Learn why wireless access points (APs) commonly lose network connectivity in this expert response with wireless networking expert Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• How do we add wireless printer servers to our network?

  Learn how to add wireless printer servers to your network: Know what equipment you need and how to stop non-employees from using those printers.  Continue Reading

• Do social networking products (blogs) pose network security threats?

  Find out how a social networking product or program like a blog might pose a network security threat, in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• BICSI separation requirements between cross-connect points

  Our network infrastructure expert explains what the BICSI and NEC requirements are for separation between a 45 KVA transformer and a CAT 6 cross-connect point, in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Should you take the CCNA or get a degree?

  Compare what a CCNA is worth next to a two- or four-year degree, in this response from our training and certification expert, Ed Tittel.  Continue Reading

• How do I get a job offer to start my networking career?

  Even with MCSA certification it's hard to get a network administrator job with no experience. Learn how to get job offers to start a networking career in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Can you obtain an entry-level networking job with only certifications?

  See whether experience, certifications or degrees get you the best networking career, and learn if you can obtain entry-level jobs with only certifications, in this expert response with training and certification guru Ed Tittel.  Continue Reading

• What is interVLAN routing?

  Learn what interVLAN routing is in this Ask the Expert with routing expert Sudhanshu Gupta.  Continue Reading

• Configure branch office VLANs to route across WAN

  If your traffic isn't routable across WLAN networks, learn how you need to configure your branch office VLANs to route traffic across your WAN.  Continue Reading

• Does a firewall need two static IPs for port forwarding?

  See if it takes two static IPs to accomplish port forwarding in a Cisco firewall, in this expert response from network security expert Puneet Mehta.  Continue Reading

• What IPv6 topology/configuration is used most in peer-to-peer tunneling?

  Learn what IPv6 topology and configuration is used most in peer-to-peer tunneling, in this expert response with Silvia Hagen.  Continue Reading

• How does asynchronous transfer mode differ from existing network technologies?

  Learn how asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) differs from existing network technologies in this response from our networking infrastructure expert, Carrie Higbie.  Continue Reading

• What network monitoring tools monitor all OSI layers?

  To understand network monitoring in all Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers, view this expert response.  Continue Reading

• After a server outage what emergency steps secure your network?

  What emergency and recovery steps are taken when there is a network server outage? Find out from security expert Michael Gregg.  Continue Reading

• What's the prefix of a Unique Local IPv6 Unicast Address?

  Learn the prefix and configuration of a Unique Local IPv6 Unicast Address, in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Why was IPv6 developed, and what issues does IPv4 have?

  Learn what issues cannot be rectified using IPv4 and why IPv6 was developed, in this Ask the Expert.  Continue Reading

• Can I use my Windows Server as an Internet proxy server?

  To use your Windows Server as an Internet proxy server, what do you need to do? Find out from our wireless expert, Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between licensed and unlicensed wireless?

  Learn what the tradeoff is between licensed and unlicensed wireless.  Continue Reading

• How do I make a Cisco lab for CCNP training?

  Want to know how to set up a cost-effective Cisco lab for CCNP training? Learn from Cisco certification expert Dave Minutella in this response.  Continue Reading

• Should you certify before getting a Masters degree?

  Discover whether you should get a certification before entering a masters program. Training and certification expert Ed Tittel explains how a Masters degree compares with certifying in this response.  Continue Reading

• How do I pass my Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam?

  Are you searching for good Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) material to pass your exam? Training and certification expert Ed Tittel recommends these books.  Continue Reading

• What are the functions of ASN.1 and BER?

  View this link provided by our routing and switching expert to find out the functions of ASN.1 and BER.  Continue Reading

• How do you assign a default gateway?

  Find out the command you need to run to assign a default gateway in this response from our routing and switching expert, Sudhanshu Gupta.  Continue Reading

• Can you convert a Layer 3 switch to Layer 2?

  See how a Layer 3 switch can convert to a Layer 2 switch, in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• At what circuit utilization percentage should I increase bandwidth?

  How do you know when to increase your bandwidth? Find out from WAN optimization expert Dr. David Hughes.  Continue Reading

• What are TCP Wrappers? How do they work?

  Network security expert, Puneet Mehta, explains TCP Wrappers and how they work in this Ask the Expert.  Continue Reading

• What is layered defense approach to network security?

  Learn what the layered defense approach to network security is in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• What is FEC in MPLS?

  Learn what Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC) is and how it works with Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS).  Continue Reading

• How can I secure VoIP conversations using free softphone?

  Can you secure VoIP conversations using free softphone? Find out from our network security expert.  Continue Reading

• Are high-gain antennas needed on both AP and client sides?

  See if you need a high-gain antenna on both the AP and client side to boost wireless range and signal quality. Wireless expert Lisa Phifer elaborates on the metrics and reasoning.  Continue Reading

• Frame relay, ATM, and Gigabit Ethernet pros and cons

  Frame relay, ATM, and Gigabit Ethernet have pros and cons for basing network infrastructure off of, according to our networking fundamentals expert.  Continue Reading

• Are there non-vendor specific certifications for VoIP?

  To obtain a VoIP related certification, does it have to be from Cisco to be worthwhile? Find out from certification expert Ed Tittel.  Continue Reading

• How do you check if TCP/IP is installed on the system?

  Understand the TCP/IP stack and how to check if it is installed on your system in this networking fundamentals expert response.  Continue Reading

• How to build a database server farm using different topologies

  Learn how to build a database server farm using different topologies, from network fundamentals expert Chris Partsenidis.  Continue Reading

• How do we control who gets our wireless network's free Internet access?

  Learn how to control access to your wireless network's free Internet.  Continue Reading

• Assessing WAN connectivity, identifying latency for centralized application access

  When assessing the WAN connectivity network learn to identify latency and low response times for centralized application access from WAN optimization expert Dr. Hughes.  Continue Reading

• To renew my CCNP, which exam should I take?

  Learn what test you need to take to renew your CCNP from Cisco certification expert David Minutella.  Continue Reading

• What protocol works on all layers of OSI?

  Learn what protocol, if any, works on all layers of OSI in this expert answer.  Continue Reading

• How do routers and switches differ in the OSI model?

  Learn the difference between a switch and a router in relation to the OSI model in this Ask the Expert.  Continue Reading

• Are there network monitoring tools for Layers 1 through 7?

  Learn which network monitoring tools can monitor your network from Layer 1 through Layer 7.  Continue Reading

• How to block some users from the Internet while allowing others

  Learn how to block certain users from the Internet while allowing others on the same LAN in this expert response with enterprise security expert Michael Gregg.  Continue Reading

• Should I CISSP certify to be well-rounded or specialize in Checkpoint?

  Is it better to be well-rounded or have a specialty? Tittel helps you decide between CISSP certification and specializing in Checkpoint in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Why do networking professionals earn lower salaries than other IT professionals?

  If networking professionals tend to earn lower salaries than other IT professionals, what can you do to change that? Our training and certification expert explains how you can earn a higher salary.  Continue Reading

• Are Linux Professional Institute (LPI) certifications good for a networking career?

  See if Linux Professional Institute (LPI) certifications will further your networking career in this expert response with our training and certification expert, Ed Tittel.  Continue Reading

• Do sandstorms, too much heat, and strong winds affect Wi-Fi connections?

  How much does weather affect Wi-Fi? Wireless networking expert Lisa Phifer explains how sandstorms, too much heat and strong winds might affect your connection in this Q&A.  Continue Reading

• Where should I place my cable modem?

  Learn how cable modem placement will affect your wireless network connection, in this expert response with Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• How do you change a non name brand PC with Windows XP into a wireless client or access point?

  Learn from wireless expert Lisa Phifer, how to change a non name brand PC with Windows XP into a wireless client or access point.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between VPN and VPN pass-through?

  In this Q&A, our VPN expert describes the difference between a basic VPN and VPN pass-through, a feature often found in small business Internet gateway devices.  Continue Reading

• To evaluate network management, what criteria is there?

  What are the criteria for evaluating how efficient your network management is? Find out in this expert response with Lindi Horton.  Continue Reading

• How many wireless devices can connect to an 802.11g access point?

  Learn how many wireless devices can connect to an 802.11G access point (AP) in this expert response with Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• Can I set up a VPN on my wireless router?

  Learn about the difference between functions in a consumer and pro-sumer cable modem and how to set up your VPN on your wireless router, in this Q&A.  Continue Reading

• To set up a VPN server, do you need two NIC cards?

  To set up a VPN server, do you need two NIC cards? Find out the answer to this and how to fix disconnects in this Q&A with Sampath Ramaswami.  Continue Reading

• Starting a networking career with an associate degree and certifications

  To start a networking career, would an associate degree and certifications be enough? Find out from training and certification expert Ed Tittel.  Continue Reading

• As a generalist which certification should I get?

  If you have a broad but shallow skill set, which certification should you get? Ed Tittel advises what to do, in this Ask the Expert.  Continue Reading

• Can you suggest tools to detect Bluetooth-based card-skimming devices?

  Wireless expert Lisa Phifer explains the usage and tools for detecting Bluetooth-based card-skimming devices in this Q&A.  Continue Reading

• How do I connect to our VPN with authentication ID?

  Learn how to connect wireless laptops to your VPN using a SecurID authentication and Nortel Contivity VPN gateway in this Q&A with wireless expert Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• Stop simultaneous connections to corporate LANs and external Wi-Fi networks

  How can you stop simultaneous connections to corporate LANs and external Wi-Fi networks? Find out from wireless expert Lisa Phifer in this Ask the Expert.  Continue Reading

• Which routers won't assign IP addresses to other subnets?

  If you have a large network and want to segment it with routers, find out which kind of routers you need to use so that your server doesn't assign IP addresses to other subnets, in this expert response with router expert Sudhanshu Gupta.  Continue Reading

• How can I define the layered approach to protocols?

  Learn what the network security advantages are in the layered approach to protocols and how to define the layered approach protocol, in this Q&A with Michael Gregg.  Continue Reading

• To practice my CCNA, what equipment do I need?

  Learn what equipment you need to set up a home lab to practice for your CCNA in this Q&A with Cisco certifications expert David Minutella.  Continue Reading

• What core network security items are needed to secure networks?

  Learn which core network security items, facilities and tools are needed to secure a particular network in this Q&A with Michael Gregg.  Continue Reading

• Do stateful packet-filtering firewalls have vulnerabilities?

  Learn what types of attacks stateful packet-filtering firewalls are vulnerable to in this Q&A with security expert Puneet Mehta.  Continue Reading

• What AP configuration will get the best encryption and authentication?

  Problems with your wireless connections can be caused by the following. Read security expert Puneet Mehta's response to see what AP configuration will get the best encryption and authentication.  Continue Reading

• Would a CCNP/CCDP help me enter a network administration career?

  How marketable are your skills? Would a CCNP/CCDP help you get into network administration? Find out in this expert response by Ed Tittel.  Continue Reading

• How does any certification expire if a degree never does?

  Why does a certification expire? View this Q&A debating the reasons for network certification expirations.  Continue Reading

• Is IT a good, safe career choice?

  Is IT a safe career choice? Read training and certification expert Ed Tittel's response to this query.  Continue Reading

• In IP, could we eliminate the need for ARP?

  Could ARP be eliminated from IP? Silvia Hagen explains in this Q&A.  Continue Reading

• What are the routing differences between IPv4 and IPv6?

  Between IPv4 and IPv6, find out how routing differs, in this Q&A with Silvia Hagen.  Continue Reading

• Can I connect WLAN and LAN clients using 802.1x and EAP?

  Learn how to connect wireless and wired LAN clients using 802.1x and EAP with a workgroup instead of an Active Directory Domain in this Q&A with Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• Can computers talk to a wireless AP using ad hoc?

  Wireless expert Lisa Phifer explains how to use ad hoc to get computers to talk to one another, in this response.  Continue Reading

• Why can't my phone connect to the wired LAN?

  Learn why your 802.11g-enabled phone can connect to the Internet through a Lynksys router but not to your wired LAN, in this Q&A with Lisa Phifer.  Continue Reading

• Is my hotspot provider vulnerable to MAC address spoofing?

  In this Q&A with wireless networking expert Lisa Phifer, see if your hotspot provider is vulnerable to MAC address spoofing when it uses Web portal to charge customers for wireless access.  Continue Reading