CCNA and CCNP candidates hear it all the time: "you have to get some hands-on experience to pass the exams". Candidates tend to think that’s just so they can solve the simulator problems, but that’s only the more obvious reason. First, I want to make it clear that I’m not bashing learning from books you [...]
The major reason I recommend getting your hands on real Cisco equipment rather than a simulator is that real Cisco routers give you the chance to practice and learn show and debug commands. The knowledge you acquire from debugs is invaluable. Frankly, it??s this knowledge that puts you above the ??average?? CCNA who doesn??t have [...]
In order to implement VLANs in a network environment, you’ll need a Layer 2 switch that supports them. Almost all switches sold today that are described as “managed” switches provide the ability to make ports members of different VLANs. However, switches that don’t provide any configuration function (such as many basic, lower-end switches) don’t provide [...]
There are plenty of articles out there about how to prepare for the CCNA exam. However, there are also things you can do to increase your chances of success on exam day during the most important part of the entire process — the time that you’re actually taking the test. I’ve taken many a certification [...]
When you’re studying for your CCNA exams, you’re going to study the theory of technologies we basically take for granted in networking. CSMA/CD is one of those technologies. It works beautifully and you don’t even have to configure it. But to be an effective network troubleshooter (and to pass the 640-811, 640-801, and 640-821 exams), [...]
In the previous ISDN article, we looked at how and why one router dials another using ISDN. Just as important is knowing what keeps the link up once it is dialed. Why? Because ISDN acts as a phone call between two routers, and it??s billed that way to your client. The two routers that are [...]
There is a very high possibility that changing your web host now could actually save you a lot of grief in the near future. In the past people have hardly paid attention to their web hosts and have thus been ignorant to the fact that this is a choice that makes a huge impact on [...]
Just as we have been forced to face terrifying new terrorist attacks in the offline world that threatens our very way of life, online and less publicized dangers are an increasing and terrifying threat. Few people realize that your choice of web host has a lot to do with just how secure your web site [...]
