Local and international networks require information to be constantly updated in order to properly route communications. Routing protocols were developed in order to help keep information flowing to the proper locations and to maintain network connectivity on both LAN and WAN. The Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) is one of the most popular internal routing protocols used on medium to large businesses and education networks today. EIGRP Basics EIGRP was developed as a hybrid distance vector routing protocol that uses many of the same composite metrics as the Interior Read More

Cisco IOS software is installed in the manageable Cisco switches for better LAN management. It delivers network services and enabled networked applications. The Cisco IOS has a command line interface that helps users to execute the Cisco IOS commands. Cisco Switch Commands The Cisco switch IOS has different EXEC modes with distinctive prompts. These modes execute different Cisco switch commands. Each mode has a set of specific commands. The fundamentals of the Cisco IOS User Interface are as follows : Uses a command line interface Operations vary on different series Read More

IPX/SPX is a protocol suite that is implemented on many corporate internetworks. IPX/SPX was developed to operate in Novell Netware in LAN environment. But today, the IPX/SPX is also used in Microsoft NT, Microsoft XP and Lotus Notes environment along with Vista. IPX/SPX on Cisco IOS The Cisco IOS also provides a wide range of configuration tools and options for IPX/SPX protocol suite. The Cisco IPX/SPX router configuration tools are very much similar with Cisco IP router configuration. Some of them are listed: The Cisco IOS provides static route support Read More

The Point-to-Point protocol (PPP) originally emerged as an encapsulation protocol for transporting IP traffic over point-to-point links. PPP also established a standard for the assignment and management of IP address, synchronous (start/stop) and bit-oriented synchronous encapsulation, network protocol multiplexing, link configuration, link quality testing, error detection, and option negotiation for such capabilities as network layer address negotiation and data compression negotiation. PPP supports these functions by providing an extensible Link Control Program (LCP) and a family of Network Control Program (NCP) to negotiate optional configuration parameters and facilities. In addition Read More

VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Mask) is a technique that network administrators employ in order to use their IP subnet(s) in a more effective manner. By using VLSM, a long mask can be used on a network that has a few hosts and a short net mask on subnets that have a large number of hosts. To use VLSM, however, a routing protocol that supports it has to be used. Cisco routers support the concept with the following protocols: Integrated IS-IS (Integrated Intermediate System to Intermediate System), EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Read More

Routers are basically used to connect different networks by allowing them to exchange routing information with each other. A router is a network layer device that maintains a database called an IP routing table by learning the ip addresses of directly connected networks by default. After enabling the IP Routing process, the learned networks can also be seen in the IP routing table by exchanging the IP routing information. Cisco is the worldwide leader in providing routers, switches, and other networking devices. Cisco routers are known as the best solution Read More

Cisco IOS As you know that Cisco is the worldwide leader in providing the hardware solutions as well as the software solutions of LAN and WAN. The hardware solutions mean that the hardware devices such as switches and routers etc but what is the meaning of software solution? The software solution actually means that Cisco manufactures manageable devices with a CLI based Cisco IOS Software installed in these devices. With the help of this software you can better manage your network and internetwork environment. Once you have performed and inspection Read More

Cisco Router IOS Cisco routers are manageable devices, which means that they have the Cisco IOS software for network and internetwork management. The Cisco’s IOS software delivers network services and enabled networked applications. The Cisco IOS is the CLI based software with which Cisco IOS commands can be executed. Cisco Commands There are more than 2,000 Cisco router commands in the latest Cisco router IOS software version including the basic router commands along with the advanced level router commands such as Cisco wireless router commands. The Cisco router IOS has Read More

Routing Protocols Whenever different networks connect with each other to communicate and to share the data and resources, it is called internetworking. For internetworking, routers must be used on each network or at backbone to route the packets. To route a packet, a router needs to know: Destination Addresses Sources it can learn from Possible routes Best route Maintain and Verify the routing information Routers must learn the destinations that are not directly connected. For this purpose, routing must enabled on the routers. Routing uses a route that a network Read More

WAN connects different LANs with each other to communicate and to share data and resources. As a result, routers must be used on each network or at backbone to route the IP packets and IP routing should be enabled on the routers. Routers must learn the destinations that are not directly connected by building and maintaining routing tables. Once the routing table is built, the router switches packets by matching an incoming packet’s destination address with the “longest match” in the routing table. The routing table can be constructed with Read More