Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Lab 8 and 9 - MP-BGP and MPLS

I think I have a better "simplistic" view of MP-BGP...

This is how I keep it straight or understand it in my head:

- Address-family VPNV4 is used for PE to PE, to exchange VPN routes - implying that multiple VRFs will cross these peerings.
- Address-family IPV4 VRF XXX is used for PE to CE, to exchange IPV4 routes with the "customer" - implying that the interface connecting to the CE is in VRF XXX.

If this isn't right, I hope someone corrects me :)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Skipped 8 by accident, finishing 9.

I skipped section 8 MP-BGP by accident as when I printed the workbook I must have not printed that section, I already set up 9 which is MPLS so I decided to go ahead and finish this up before going back.

I have to say, I'm much happier with IPX Vol 1 then I was with INE Vol 1. None the less, it doesn't hurt to study off of multiple vendors and I plan on doing so. What does "hurt" is the order, which I had done IPX V1 first. Lesson learned.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Vol 1 Lab 6 - ISIS - notes

Some general very basic info on ISIS, level 1 is relative to intra area, whereas level 2 is relative to inter area... as it relates to ospf.


Task 6.1- General ISIS config

- when configuring ISIS, start by using the NET command and then assign interfaces to the ISIS process with ip router isis command under the interface
- the NET command includes the area, system ID, and selector-byte, ie, net 51.0001.000.c800.0001.00
- to prevent loopback interfaces from forming adjacencies use the passive-interface command under the router process

Task 6.3 - ISIS Link auth
- ISIS Link authentication - under the interface use the command isis password xxx level 2. Specifying level 2 when the link is between 2 different areas

Task 6.4- ISIS Area auth
- SNP authentication/Area authentication is done under the router process area-password xxx authenticate snp validate

Task 6.5 - TLVs
-
New metric style is wide. Using "transition" will allow the router to accept the old metric style too. Under the router process, metric-style wide transition

Task 6.6 - timers
- adjust timers like Hello interval and multiplier under the interface.

Task 6.7 & 6.8 Redistribution
- when redistributing connected interfaces, create a route map to be as specific as possible, then redistribute, redistribute connected route-map NAME level-1-2, the "level-1-2" specifies that it will be advertised through both level 1 and 2 routers.
- when redistributing static routes, create a route map to be as specific as possible, and you can set a metric on a specific route in order for it to be NOT advertised. Set the metric to the maximum to accomplish this in the route-map.

So ISIS is new to me and this lab was my first exposure to ISIS. Therefor, writing notes will help keep thing straight in my mind and for future reference.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Reading the chapter on ISIS :)

I think I did it backwards :) I did lab 6 of IPX Vol1 which deals with ISIS and then I'm in the middle of reading chapter 10 - Integrated ISIS... Maybe I should have read FIRST then labbed :)

Oh well, I can always re do the lab to solidify what I'm reading.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

IPExpert's Vol 1 SP workbook... so far so good!

So after switching gears to IPX and completing the first 2 labs, I'm pretty happy with starting from the ground up, even if some of things I knew/learned before.

Lab 1 was Frame Relay - nothing new to learn, just some good re-enforcement of things I knew.
Lab 2 was ATM - all new to me!

Lab 3 and 4 I may have to skip for now, until I get access to some switches (my R&S rack is at my 'rents house, powered down).

Off to work on Lab 5 - OSPF, hopefully I'll have the same experience as Lab 1.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Leaving INE Vol 1 for greener pastures...

I can't take the lack of explanation in their solutions and after a few people have suggested IPX Vol 1 as an alternative, which btw I was planning on doing next anyway, has just accelerated my path.

I have experience with IPX (in regards to R&S) so my expectation is set, I'm sure they did an excellent job in SP as they've done in R&S.

... I feel like the monkey has gotten off my back... for now.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Still Trekking...

Since returning from CiscoLive! I've gotten back to studying...

I'm still not happy with INE Vol1's lack of explanation and I'm looking forward to finishing and moving on to something more thorough. I'm about a quarter finished... I sure am dragging my feet. :)