Cisco OSPF Command and Configuration Handbook

Rating:
Summary: Great Hands on Prep for CCIE Lab
Review: After reading other Cisco Press OSPF documentation, which was often drier than RFCs and all over the place, this was a welcomed addition to my CCIE Prep Library. Not only does Bill provide the commands and what they do, but many hands on practical scenarios that you can apply in your own home or work lab. I found that even reading through them provided a greater understanding of how the commands are used in real life situations. This is a great supplement to Jeff Doyles Routing TCP/IP Vol 1, which is the ONLY other OSPF refrence in the Cisco Press I would recommend. For those who really want to know the inner guts of OSPF, I would recommend either of John Moy's book on OSPF or Radia Perlmans Interconnections 2nd Eddition.

Rating:
Summary: Best OSPF Lab Preparation Guide for CCIE
Review: Best book I have seen for both an OSPF "How To" reference and CCIE lab preparation. Every command and OSPF scenario is covered
and the book is virtually error free. I configured every exercise
in the book using my home lab and the OSPF section of the CCIE
lab exam was absolutely no problem. If you want to learn how to
configure every scenario using OSPF, this is the only book I have
seen that will show you how to do it.

Rating:
Summary: Best OSPF Lab Preparation Guide for CCIE
Review: Best book I have seen for both an OSPF "How To" reference and CCIE lab preparation. Every command and OSPF scenario is covered
and the book is virtually error free. I configured every exercise
in the book using my home lab and the OSPF section of the CCIE
lab exam was absolutely no problem. If you want to learn how to
configure every scenario using OSPF, this is the only book I have
seen that will show you how to do it.

Rating:
Summary: To buy with OSPF Network Design Solutions, Second Edition
Review: Buy this if You have OSPF Network Design Solutions, Second Edition
by Tom Thomas. A useful command reference on Osfp and good example.

Rating:
Summary: Great lab prep handbook
Review: The Cisco OSPF Command and Configuration Handbook (ISBN 1-58705-071-4) by Dr. William Parkhurst is a must read for any network professional who is currently using, or may use, OSPF in their network. The book delivers exactly what the title promises. While most other books deal with the theory and the mechanics behind OSPF, this book is purely a command and configuration reference, as used on Cisco routers. Dr Parkhurst presents each OSPF command with a syntax description, an explanation as to the purpose of the command (which I found really helpful), which Cisco IOS version it was initially released in, configuration examples and a troubleshooting section.

The material is very well presented and extremely easy to read and comprehend. The configuration examples are easy to follow and implement. The troubleshooting section steps are clear, concise and easy to follow. Each chapter is concerned with different areas of OSPF configuration. There are chapters outlining show, debug and clear commands along with chapters on route filtering and route redistribution. There is even a chapter on the type 6 LSA (MOSPF). I found this informative, because I couldn't find other documentation on type 6 LSAs.

Another aspect of the book I really liked was in how the configuration examples were presented. Each example had a network scenario and gave a step by step process on how to utilize the command. A network diagram was included along with outputs from the routers used in the configuration scenario. The configuration examples start with a verification phase where the correct operation is determined. Then the command is applied and the changes are outlined and displayed. The troubleshooting section outlines steps where the most common failures may occur. While you can get a lot of information from the configuration examples, it helps if you have access to routers where you can apply the commands.

While I found the book easy to comprehend, I believe it was written primarily for network professionals pursuing higher level certification or who operate a network using OSPF. At least a basic knowledge of OSPF and link state routing protocols is needed to understand the majority of the commands; specifically the OSPF area commands, timer commands, route filtering and route redistribution. It is also very important to know OSPF terminology when reading this book, as there is no glossary that defines the terminology used in the book. If you plan to use this book for certification preparation, it is more suited towards the CCIE Routing and Switching Lab Exam rather than the written exam. It also makes a great desk reference for network professional currently using OSPF.

I would highly recommend this book to all network professionals, whether studying for Cisco certification or wanting to implement OSPF in their networks. It has helped me to understand OSPF a lot better and I am more confident in using it in my network. I am also looking forward to reading the CISCO BGP-4 Command and Configuration Handbook by Dr. Parkhurst.

Rating:
Summary: Many errors - too bad
Review: They had the right idea they decided to publish this book. A good command and configuration guide for OSPF is much needed. This is not that book, sadly. Technical errors abound. I worked through the configurations with a lab full of 2612 routers using IOS 12.1 (you need at least 4 routers with 2 serial ports and an ethernet port to complete all of the configurations). All I can say is I wish Cisco Press had done the same thing BEFORE publishing this book! I'm being generous giving this book 3 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Good simple examples to help learning ospf commands
Review: This book doesn't tell you the theory of OSPF, but it fits my purpose well - to use 2-3 routers to test out OSPF commands! The description and examples are comprehensive and will not lose you.

Definitely it will help me in studying CCIE. (4.5 stars)

Rating:
Summary: Great reference for CCIE prep and for network engineers
Review: This book is an excellent OSPF configuration reference for the practicing network engineer and for anyone preparing for the CCIE lab exam. It has complete configuration examples for every OSPF command with tips on how to verify and troubleshoot. Much more complete than anything you will find in web based documentation.