Rating: 
Summary: Awesome switching reference
Review: While I was preparing for the CCNP, I was hard pressed to find just the right book that explained LAN switching in depth. Now that I am preparing for my CCIE, this is the book I was looking for. This is one of the most comprehensive texts on Cisco LAN switching I've seen. It breaks down switching concepts into easy to understand topics. You don't have to be an expert at switching to understand the topics addressed in this book. It begins with basic switching technologies and progresses into more advanced topics. Cisco LAN Switching is broken down into 6 sections. Section 1 is concerned with foundational issues and gives an excellent introduction to bridging and switching technologies. The other sections progress through VLANS and STP to Trunking and advanced topics. Each chapter concludes with review questions and the later chapters have hands on lab configurations. The book ends with real world campus design models, implementation and case studies, which tie all the earlier sections together. Each topic is thoroughly explained and the diagrams and definitions help clarify certain areas. I also found the tips and notes in the chapters very helpful in understanding the material better. Another interesting point is that the chapters dealing with STP were reviewed by Radia Perlman, creator of the Spanning Tree algorithm. Even without a whole lot of exposure to the spanning tree protocol, the material was presented in an easy to understand format. However there were a few issues I did have with the some of the content and the layout of the sections dealing with trunking. The first chapter addresses the basics of LAN switching and bridging but does not go into enough depth on the different bridging technologies. I believe an expanded discussion on bridging technologies (SRB, RSRB and DLSW+) would have been helpful as well as a section on deciphering an RIF. The section on trunking technologies goes into great depth about different types of trunking, including a wide array of diagrams and tables explaining each technology. While the subject matter is thoroughly covered, I do have an issue concerning the layout of the chapters. The authors devote an entire section of the book to trunking technologies, yet they place the chapter on VTP in an entirely different section of the book. I believe the flow of the chapters would have been more consistent if VTP was addressed in the section on trunking technologies. These small issues aside, I found this book very helpful for my studies toward the CCIE and also in implementing better switching technologies in my company's network. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who plans on using any type of switching in their network environment or those studying for Cisco certification. However, this book should not be used solely as a study resource and then be put aside; it should be an integral part of any network administrator's reference library.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome switching reference
Review: While I was preparing for the CCNP, I was hard pressed to find just the right book that explained LAN switching in depth. Now that I am preparing for my CCIE, this is the book I was looking for. This is one of the most comprehensive texts on Cisco LAN switching I've seen. It breaks down switching concepts into easy to understand topics. You don't have to be an expert at switching to understand the topics addressed in this book. It begins with basic switching technologies and progresses into more advanced topics. Cisco LAN Switching is broken down into 6 sections. Section 1 is concerned with foundational issues and gives an excellent introduction to bridging and switching technologies. The other sections progress through VLANS and STP to Trunking and advanced topics. Each chapter concludes with review questions and the later chapters have hands on lab configurations. The book ends with real world campus design models, implementation and case studies, which tie all the earlier sections together. Each topic is thoroughly explained and the diagrams and definitions help clarify certain areas. I also found the tips and notes in the chapters very helpful in understanding the material better. Another interesting point is that the chapters dealing with STP were reviewed by Radia Perlman, creator of the Spanning Tree algorithm. Even without a whole lot of exposure to the spanning tree protocol, the material was presented in an easy to understand format. However there were a few issues I did have with the some of the content and the layout of the sections dealing with trunking. The first chapter addresses the basics of LAN switching and bridging but does not go into enough depth on the different bridging technologies. I believe an expanded discussion on bridging technologies (SRB, RSRB and DLSW+) would have been helpful as well as a section on deciphering an RIF. The section on trunking technologies goes into great depth about different types of trunking, including a wide array of diagrams and tables explaining each technology. While the subject matter is thoroughly covered, I do have an issue concerning the layout of the chapters. The authors devote an entire section of the book to trunking technologies, yet they place the chapter on VTP in an entirely different section of the book. I believe the flow of the chapters would have been more consistent if VTP was addressed in the section on trunking technologies. These small issues aside, I found this book very helpful for my studies toward the CCIE and also in implementing better switching technologies in my company's network. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who plans on using any type of switching in their network environment or those studying for Cisco certification. However, this book should not be used solely as a study resource and then be put aside; it should be an integral part of any network administrator's reference library.
Rating:
Summary: Cisco Lan Switching: The complete guide to Catalyst switches
Review: While studying for my R&S lab attempt I felt that one of my weak understandings was the fundamental design and implementation of intricate network switching. I had gone through other books in preparation for the CCNP switching exam, and many of the other CCIE preparation books (i.e. Caslow, Doyle, Bruno.) I understood how to implement the typical configurations as per many of the practice lab workbook materials, but I was unable to grasp the immense capabilities of the current Catalyst line of equipment.
The book begins with a lesson of Ethernet development. It brought an understanding the road to current network deployment with an eye on the future of the technology. Explanations of the politics and business needs that brought the 802.3 group standards into use helped in teaching the capabilities of them. While troubleshooting many large enterprise networks I have been witness to extremely poor network segmentation ("when in doubt, bridge everything!") I would really recommend that all administrators use this book to more fully apprehend the benefits of avoiding a flat network and segmenting to realize the network utilization potential.
Fast network convergence and understanding spanning-tree is necessary in any moving network design. The lessons on VLAN trunking protocol, configuration, and design touched was written to easily help with real world completion. With the recent troubles of Welchia, Blaster, and Nachi, implementing a flexible network that can be responsive and designed to protect users should be one of the top responsibilities for any responsible admin.
In chapter 14, the explanation of equipment and design to executing an access, distribution, and core network design provided a very handy top down view of proper redesign project development. It provided advantages, disadvantages, and great practical advice for an exhaustive list of campus design models. One of the most beneficial aspects of the design chapters was an excellent use of network design exercises of which I have made several uses in my lab environment.
It is my personal belief that developing excellent philosophical troubleshooting fundamentals is one of the most important skills necessary to completing the R&S lab within time limits, and also in keeping any clients network alive and well in any business environment. Chapter 16 provided more than the usual end of chapter lesson on troubleshooting your switched environment.
The books final chapter on Catalyst 6000/6500 technology has been my best guide to understanding the platform. Though not tested in the R&S lab environment the 6000/6500 platform has been extremely important to understand in my direct line of work. After reading the section my confidence in using the line has greatly improved.
Cisco Lan Switching is the definitive guide to understanding segmentation, trunking, and advanced spanning-tree. The STP chapters are possibly the best written material on the subject that is available. While the book doesn't provide information on the 3550 (published 2001) it does overview L3 switching quite nicely. And although no longer a CCIE R&S lab requirement, the chapter on ATM LANE helped clear many of my previous fears on the subject.
The book was an excellent read, the chapters and materials flowed well with brief overviews at the beginning of each chapter. This book is a pillar to any CCIE library!
Rating:
Summary: Every CCIE that I know has a copy of this book.
Review: You will not find a better book on LAN switching. While the text doesn't cover the Cat 3550, the explanations about the various switch theories alone makes this an invaluable reference.
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