Internetworking Troubleshooting Handbook

If you can think of the problem, Internetworking Troubleshooting Handbook probably has the solution--at least when it comes to networking problems. This 714-page tome is absolutely phenomenal in scope. Though you may not find in-depth scholarly discussions of networking woes, you will find pragmatic tips that can help you through an immediate crisis. And the configuration screens, tables, and diagrams are both essential and useful additions to the text.

Divided into six sections, the first outlines general problem-solving techniques as well as available troubleshooting tools from Cisco and third-party vendors. Next, the authors contend with hardware, booting, and media (which essentially means answers as to what could be preventing the network routers or switches from automatically firing up). In addition, potential Ethernet, FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface), and Token Ring malfunctions are more than sufficiently addressed.

The seven chapters of section 3 deal exclusively with routing protocols from TCP/IP to AppleTalk to the more obscure Banyan VINES. As for WAN connectivity, more than 100 pages are dedicated to serial line, dial-in, ISDN, frame relay, and X.25 connections. And if you're experiencing difficulty in your ATM or LAN switching environment, with your security servers, or with CiscoWorks, this team of authors has provided useful guidance for those issues as well. The five appendices--"Creating Core Dumps," "Memory Maps," "Technical Support Information," "References and Recommended Reading," and "Troubleshooting Worksheets"--are also invaluable. --Sarah L. Roberts-Witt