Cisco Certification: Bridges, Routers, and Switches for CCIEs, 2nd edition
Authors: Andrew Bruce Caslow, Valeriy Pavlichenko
Venue:  (2000)

From the Book:PrefaceFor the next ten years, the opportunities for internetwork professionals will be immense. However, the challenge of possessing the proper knowledge base and skill set will be faced by every internetworking professional. The challenge is two-fold: (1) how does one develop his internetworking knowledge base and skill sets to the highest possible level and (2) how does one stay current in this rapidly changing field! Cisco Systems offers a solution: the Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System). By mastering the Cisco IOS, an internetworking professional can supply virtually any internetworking solution. The IOS has its origins in the routing world but has expanded to LAN switching, ATM switching, multilayer switching, voice-data integration and security.From an internetwork education perspective, the IOS configuration set, show commands and debugging tools provide a technician with a valuable insight into how internetworking technologies operate. For example, having access to IOS debugging tools and a network protocol analyzer such as a Network Associates Sniffer in a testbed environment allows a technician to develop a strong technical understanding of how internetwork protocols operate at a high level of technical detail. IOS debugging tools should be used with extreme caution in a production internetwork. However, in an educational environment, IOS debugging tools should be used to enhance the internetwork education process. One of the goals of this book is to demonstrate how debug output can be used to enhance the internetwork education process.A broader goal of this book is to demonstrate the power of the Cisco IOS from both aproduction and education perspective. An internetwork professional that learns the IOS well enough to attain CCIE certification has developed an internetworking knowledge base and skill set that will allow him to accelerate his learning of other internetworking technologies. Therefore, mastering the Cisco IOS and the related internetworking technologies to the point of attaining CCIE certification should be viewed as a foundational beginning rather than an end. Once you have attained your CCIE, you must look ahead to what new internetworking topics you will master. However, as you learn new topics, you will apply the precious internetworking analysis skills you developed while you prepared for CCIE certification.In sum, I hope this book assists in developing the reader's internetwork analysis skills. By developing methodologies to think like a quality internetworking professional, you will be able to rapidly adapt to the constant changes occurring in this industry. By developing methodologies to think like a quality internetworking professional, you will be better prepared to attain your CCIE. Therefore, a clear road to optimizing your internetworking analysis skills is mastering the Cisco IOS. Once you learn how to speak IOS and think IOS to the highest level of technical detail, improved internetworking analysis skills come along with the territory. Good luck on your journey to CCIE certification!