Cisco Routers for IP Routing Little Black Book: The Definitive Guide to Deploying and Configuring Cisco Routers

Don't expect handholding in Cisco Routers for IP Routing as it explains the Internet Protocol (IP) suite and how to implement it with Cisco hardware and software. The key components needed to keep a network online are presented--addressing, subnetting, bridging, and routing--but this book assumes readers are generally familiar with the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) command-line environment, so it doesn't spend much time on the early familiarization process.

The bulk of each chapter contains practical information for setting up systems and solving problems, including lots of procedures and plenty of illustrative router output, plus insights on good design and administration practice. Readers will also find conceptual, hands-off material explaining what the various protocols do and how they do it.

Cisco Routers for IP Routing is rich in prose and presents complex topics with some fine conceptual diagrams. However, it explains only enough to help you understand the practical material that follows. For a really thorough understanding of IP concepts, supplement this manual with Thomas A. Maufer's more in-depth IP Fundamentals: What Everyone Needs to Know About Addressing & Routing. --David Wall