Tips

Tips

• Router Expert: Conducting a network inventory, part 1

  Peforming a network inventory is the first step to an audit. It allows you to build a complete picture of your environment and will reveal inconsistencies that should be resolved.  Continue Reading

• Auto-MDIX

  How Auto-MDIX can solve the cross-over cable conundrum.  Continue Reading

• OSPF - Juniper vs. Cisco

  A look at the different ways OSPF standards are implemented on Juniper and Cisco routers.  Continue Reading

• Network administrator documentation

  Networking documentation is often missing a critical component: the Why.  Continue Reading

• The 10 traits of effective security

  Regardless of company size and industry, the most effective information security programs have several essential components in common. Read about the most crucial ones.  Continue Reading

• Intranet tunneling

  Using tunnels to segment private networks on your intranet.  Continue Reading

• MPLS: Experimental bits and QoS

  MPLS experimental bits are used to provide QoS capabilities by utilizing the bits set in the MPLS labels.  Continue Reading

• Layer 2 VPN scalability

  A look at the limitations of layer 2 VPN scalability.  Continue Reading

• WAN redundancy options

  A short list of four of the best ways to provide WAN redundancy.  Continue Reading

• IP telephony development tools

  A look at some tools for developing IP telephony applications.  Continue Reading

• What's your information security gap?

  Many businesses are developing an information security program -- a formal, structured program that helps ensure the security of business assets and operations.  Continue Reading

• Wireless for redundancy

  Implementing a wireless network is usually done for the sake of mobility, but why not consider it for redundancy?  Continue Reading

• Simplifying and standardizing your device configurations

  Simplifying and standardizing your device configurations.  Continue Reading

• VPLS, a new Layer 2 MPLS VPN technology

  A new Layer 2 MPLS VPN technology that provides similar reliablity and QoS as MPLS VPN, but in a more simplified way. But beware, it does have it's limitations.  Continue Reading

• Instant messaging service blockers

  A look at ways to monitor and block IM traffic.  Continue Reading

• Using multiple routing protocols

  A discussion of IGP and EGP and ways in which they should be implemented together.  Continue Reading

• Routing First-Step: IP version 4 and IP version 6

  Routing and Internet addressing are two important concepts involved in networking. Routing First-Step covers the basics of routing in clear, easy-to-understand language.  Continue Reading

• Locking down wireless hot spots with 802.1X

  Hot spots can increase business productivity, but careless use can lead to corporate resource compromise.  Continue Reading

• Protocols, Lesson 7: Subnet masks and their effect

  Understand the different effects a subnet mask can have.  Continue Reading

• Protocols, Lesson 9: Subnet routing and communications

  Lesson 9 in our protocol series covers the communications side of subnetting.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting firewalls

  How to troubleshoot your firewall's settings when it is preventing a client or server connection.  Continue Reading

• Router Expert: Implementing IOS CLI menus

  CLI menus enable network administrators to build overlay menu-driven interfaces for accessing EXEC shell commands.  Continue Reading

• MPLS - Preparing an RFP (Dos and Don'ts)

  A look at the things to include in an RFP, a request for proposal for VPN service.  Continue Reading

• Password checking

  Some programs to test your password integrity.  Continue Reading

• Preventing Layer 2 security threats

  Layer 2 switched environments, typically found in enterprise customer wiring closets, can be easy targets for network security attacks.  Continue Reading

• Top 5 ways to make your network more secure

  Some things to get you thinking about what kind of budget you will need to improve your network's security.  Continue Reading

• Router Expert: Configuring IOS terminal services

  This tip covers IOS configuration of a Cisco router as a terminal server providing direct asynchronous access to other Cisco routers, along with modem access for dial-out services.  Continue Reading

• MPLS - Label Distribution Protocol

  A look at some of the details of Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) and how it works in an MPLS VPN.  Continue Reading

• How VoIP is changing telecommunications for businesses

  A look at some alternatives to VoIP and traditional PBXs.  Continue Reading

• Run your VoIP calls over a VPN for enhanced security

  A look at using a VPN to enhance VoIP security.  Continue Reading

• Core, Distribution and Access

  A look at a possible logical architecture for routing and switching and how to covert it from logical to physical.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 'show' commands

  A list of the top ten 'show' commands.  Continue Reading

• MPLS - Label Switched Paths

  A look at some of the details of working with Label Switched Paths (LSPs).  Continue Reading

• Understanding business service management

  Business service management (BSM), a method of linking critical business services to the supporting IT services and infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 things to know about network administration

  A list of the most important things network administrators should know.  Continue Reading

• Test your network with Qcheck

  A short review of a free network testing tool called Qcheck.  Continue Reading

• Router Expert: Understanding reverse telnet and IOS terminal lines

  Learn how users interact with the terminal server and its connected devices through the use of reverse telnet, line and group rotaries, and terminal line interfaces.  Continue Reading

• Detecting duplex mismatches

  How to detect and solve one of the more annoying performance issues on an Ethernet network.  Continue Reading

• Deploying both a private and public WLAN

  Lisa Phifer answers a reader's request for information about planning and deploying a wireless LAN -- one private and one public.  Continue Reading

• WAN compression

  How WAN compression can help maximize bandwidth.  Continue Reading

• Bandwidth 101

  Straight forward explanation of bandwidth measurement  Continue Reading

• MPLS migration - Planning in advance

  A look at early considerations when you are planning a MPLS VPN migration.  Continue Reading

• Identifying IP addresses

  Some methods for identifying IP addresses on various systems.  Continue Reading

• How to setup Reverse Telnet

  A detailed procedure for setting up reverse Telnet.  Continue Reading

• Monitor your traffic with MRTG

  The Multi Router Traffic Grapher is a free tool that can help you monitor the traffic on your network. Learn more here.  Continue Reading

• WLAN implementation tutorial -- Capacity planning: Step 1

  For WLAN implementation, make sure you have Step 1 down -- capacity planning, not just coverage.  Continue Reading

• L2 VPNs

  A short overview of Layer 2 VPNs and some of their draft standards.  Continue Reading

• Chassis or stackable?

  The age old networking quandary receives another look in this tip that analyses the features of the chassis design.  Continue Reading

• The Network Life Cycle

  Each phase of the NLC has its own requirements that can typically be met with a judicious selection of tools and assessment solutions.  Continue Reading

• Forensic analysis, the CSI of security

  Forensics can give an organization a unique perspective on where breaches are taking place and how they are occurring, as well as how to prevent them.  Continue Reading

• Perimeter networks

  How perimeter networks can help  Continue Reading

• Router Expert: Implementing router interface redundancy

  While redundancy is simple as a concept, it becomes quite problematic in practice. This tip offers the basic options for router interface redundancy.  Continue Reading

• Learning Guide: Voice over IP basics

  This guide contains all the VoIP basics and essentials you will need when implementing an IP telephony network.  Continue Reading

• OSPF configuration

  Nuances of OSPF configuration could impact your network more than you expect.  Continue Reading

• Using passive-interface to prevent DoS

  How to use the passive-interface command to prevent Denial of Service attacks.  Continue Reading

• IP storage 101 for the network admin

  With the advent of IP storage, the time has come for network administrators to get up to speed on storage.  Continue Reading

• VoIP congestion management - basic queuing methods

  A look at some of the basic queuing methods to prevent network congestion.  Continue Reading

• Layer 3 MPLS VPNs

  A look at some of the details of Layer 3 MPLS VPNs.  Continue Reading

• Diagrams - samples

  Some samples of the Visio diagrams described in previous tips.  Continue Reading

• Tips on working with VLSM

  Variable Length Subnet Masks (VLSM) can require some serious number crunching but there are many ways to help make the process simpler.  Continue Reading

• Router Expert: Cisco asynchronous serial support

  Cisco IOS-based routers support three asynchronous serial interface types: Console, Auxiliary, and asynchronous port modules. This tip compares them.  Continue Reading

• Keep networks healthy with patch management

  A vigorous patch management process, supported by powerful, centralized tools can go a long way toward ensuring the health of a network far into the future.  Continue Reading

• MPLS Versus IPSEC VPNs: Which one is right for you

  An examination of the similarities and differences between IPSEC and MPLS and some insight as to when one should be used over the other.  Continue Reading

• Tracking to ensure failover

  Using SAAs tracking feature to ensure that your routers use the best traffic route.  Continue Reading

• Network diagrams and documentation: Part 1

  Network diagrams and documentation are the topics of this tip on keeping your network organized.  Continue Reading

• Network management is critical to systems integration

  One of the most critical, yet often overlooked, components to effective systems integration is network management.  Continue Reading

• Integrating RADIUS with an MSSP's remote access VPN

  Network security expert Lisa Phifer addresses the integration of RADIUS with an MSSP's remote access VPN.  Continue Reading

• Client-side security considerations for SSL VPNs

  Clientless SSL VPNs may be attractive for their lack of software, but they still require client-side security measures.  Continue Reading

• Optimizing Internet bandwidth with link load balancing

  Learn how link load balancing can provide an efficient, cost-effective, and easy-to-use solution to maximize utilization of Internet access.  Continue Reading

• Network security, quiz: Lessons 1 - 4

  Did you find our Administrator Academy lessons on network security useful? Take this quiz to see what you learned.  Continue Reading

• What you need from your routers in today's network environment

  As we push toward IP network environments, multi-functional routers offer many benefits.  Continue Reading

• MHSRP - Multi-group Hot Standby Router Protocol

  How to use MHSRP to easily distribute your T-1 traffic over two routers.  Continue Reading

• 10 steps to secure instant messaging

  If you have or are considering deploying IM system in your corporate communication infrastructure, this tip offers you guidelines for keeping it secure.  Continue Reading

• WLAN security: Beyond the VPN

  Wired networks have used virtual private networks (VPNs) to secure transactions across this edge, but this approach has its limitations.  Continue Reading

• Advanced packet filtering

  In this article, Laura Chappell shows you the steps required to build an advanced filter using the Sniffer Pro.  Continue Reading

• Bottom up approach to network troubleshooting

  Last week we covered the top down approach to troubleshooting, this week we look at bottom up network troubleshooting.  Continue Reading

• The network's down - Top down approach to troubleshooting

  This article explains some of the methodologies used in using the top down approach to network troubleshooting.  Continue Reading

• Basic packet filtering

  Laura Chappell discusses the basics of address filters, protocol filters, and data set filters.  Continue Reading

• Logical Fault Isolation in six steps

  A handy list of steps to solving complex networking problems, complete with an easy to remember acronym.  Continue Reading

• Three essential ingredients for network integrity

  Yankee Group analyst Eric Ogren says it's time to shift our thinking about network security from a defensive, attack-centric approach to a proactive, access-centric approach.  Continue Reading

• Network auto discovery and diagramming

  Microsoft's Visio, a diagramming package, is also available in an Enterprise edition that can do discovery as well.  Continue Reading

• Measuring network throughput in Unix

  Some useful utilities for measuring throughput in Unix.  Continue Reading

• Looking for trouble: ICMP and IP statistics to watch

  EtherPeek's Summary Statistics window lets you easily identify network scans (ping, ARP, TCP, and UDP) and OS fingerprinting on the network.  Continue Reading

• Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Chapter 1

  This chapter identifies the key metrics that are used to evaluate the performance of computer networks.  Continue Reading

• Getting DNS statistics and information

  A command line tool that can help you diagnose DNS issues.  Continue Reading

• Cisco IOS disaster recovery

  This article explains how to recover from a bad IOS upgrade.  Continue Reading

• Snapfiles

  A look at some of the downloadable tools available at Snapfiles.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the wireless landscape, part 1

  In her latest tip, mobile wireless expert Lisa Phifer breaks down wireless technologies by category according to distance and intended use.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the wireless landscape, part 2

  Part 2 of Lisa Phifer's comparison of wireless technologies.  Continue Reading

• Outsourcing license management

  Consider outsourcing license management as a way to offload one of the more tedious and time consuming network manager responsibilities.  Continue Reading

• Network Analysis, Architecture and Design: Chapter 1

  Chapter 1 introduces the analysis, architecture, and design processes.  Continue Reading

• Bandwidth management solutions

  Some ways to manage your bandwidth, whether you have money to spend or not.  Continue Reading

• Network Security: The Complete Reference

  Chapter 10 - Network Device Security  Continue Reading

• No more polluted caches!

  Why it happens, and how to stop it.  Continue Reading

• Manage your authorizations

  How to use the MMC snap-in for managing authorizations.  Continue Reading

• IM policy management

  Instant messaging security has often been neglected in most organizations, writing it into a security policy is usually a good start.  Continue Reading

• Router Expert: Configuring CBAC - Policy configuration and CBAC implementation

  In this tip we focus on policy configuration and CBAC implementation on IOS FFS capable routers.  Continue Reading

• The importance of securing the backup and restore networks

  The importance of securing the backup and restore networks  Continue Reading

• Backup basics: Three backup plans

  Backup basics: Three backup plans  Continue Reading

• Virtual LANs -- Basics

  A decade ago, a simple switch was something that only large companies with big budgets could afford, while the rest with tight budgets were left with hubs as their only affordable solution to interconnect their local networks. One of the most ...  Continue Reading