I LOVE THESE THINGS!!! | Posted to Direct from Cisco
Do these 800 series routers just keep getting cooler or what?!? This one (Cisco 881) can even connect to a G3 cellular data network to use as a WAN link. I checked my reseller prices - it's about $450.00. Sweet!
All it's missing is an LCD display screen on the front. Now THAT would be hot! I have no idea what it would say...not sure I'd even care - I just want an LCD display screen.
NOTE: Correction G3 = 3G...dyslexia strikes again...
Posted by JC at 1:25 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
It's CCNA Month at Network World! | Posted to CCNA
I mentioned a couple posts ago that I've been drafted to blog at Network World's Cisco Subnet for the month of May. Since Network World is promoting my new CCNA Practice Questions (Third Edition) book, I figured I would make my Network World blog dedicated to strategies to pass the CCNA exam. If you're interested, come on over.
PS - my CiscoBlog postings may be a little light in May. Talk about being spread as thin as butter...
PPS - The CiscoBlog Forum is rockin'! Thanks so much for those who have already started posting and replying!!! Killer.
Posted by JC at 2:52 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
iPhone Starbucks Wifi | Posted to Off-Topic
Wahoo! Free Internet access for iPhone users at Starbucks!
Wahoo! Free Internet access for those who know how to make their laptop look like an iPhone at Starbucks!
UPDATE: AT&T has since disabled Wi-Fi access at all Starbucks. Good things never last ;o)
Posted by JC at 2:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Looking for Network Diagram Ideas? | Posted to General
If you're like me, you love looking at different network diagrams to see how people create them (clean, efficient, 3d-icons, whatever). Check out www.ratemynetworkdiagram.com for a plethora of network diagram examples.
Posted by JC at 2:17 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Yet More Handy IOS Filtering Commands | Posted to IOS Foundations
A list of commands you can use to filter output on a Cisco router:
show run | include <word>
show run | interface <interface>
show run | begin <word>
show run | section include <word>
The "section" command is my newest discovery. For example, if I want to see the configuration of ALL FastEthernet interfaces on my lab router, I could type:
PE1-T1#sh run | section include FastEthernet
interface FastEthernet1/0
description connection to PE1 Internet Router
ip address 51.88.99.2 255.255.255.252
speed 100
full-duplex
interface FastEthernet1/1
no ip address
shutdown
duplex auto
speed auto
interface FastEthernet2/0
no ip address
shutdown
duplex auto
speed auto
interface FastEthernet2/1
ip address 10.7.255.100 255.255.0.0
ip nat outside
ip virtual-reassembly
duplex auto
speed auto
interface FastEthernet3/0
no ip address
shutdown
duplex auto
speed auto
interface FastEthernet3/1
no ip address
shutdown
duplex auto
speed auto
Posted by JC at 11:22 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
CiscoBlog Forums...They're here...I'm frightened... | Posted to General
Okay...I promised these at the end of last year, and I actually delivered on my promise. They were created, I just never told anyone. I've been talking with a couple friends about this and they always say something like, "dude...you SO don't know what you're getting into with forums..." They're right...I don't! But, nonetheless, the time has come to try it out.
I'm really taking a "if you build it, they will come" approach to this. I'll be trying it out based on this post for a little while, then I will add an official link to the forums from the main page. Please comment on here if you have any suggestions!
Posted by JC at 4:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
My First GNS3 Lab... | Posted to General
Thanks for all the feedback on my GNS3Labs.com idea from the previous post. Here's what I've decided to do: GNS3Labs.com will not (immediately) be a "hosted" GNS3 solution since there are a TON of technical details I still need to work out to make this possible. Instead, it will become a repository of labs for all things Cisco. Here's what I plan on doing:
1. Build the site (probably a Joomla solution...once I figure out Joomla. I'm so pathetic at anything dealing with web development)...but I do know the HTML code to make things bold. :)
2. Create a "lab writing template." I would like all the labs on this site to have a uniform look-and-feel to them. The lab template will be distributed to anyone who wants it.
3. Create a sample lab (more on this at the end of this post).
4. Accept submissions from all of YOU (and the general GNS3 community) and post them to the site.
Now...to the title of this slide. I'm on my way in creating the first GNS3 Lab Topology and Guide. I've decided to make it a big CCNA-level lab. Network World magazine has invited me to be their "blogger of the month" for the month of May to promote my new CCNA Practice Questions book. I'll be posting my first CCNA practice lab both here and to the Network World CCNA blog I'll be running in the beginning of May.
I'm really excited to see this thing take off!
Posted by JC at 3:20 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
That's it... | Posted to Off-Topic
Well, it looks like the CiscoBlog has grown too big for my current hosting provider (BlueHost.com). This is the second time my "account has been suspended" due to "reason: site causing performance problems". I guess you get what you pay for ($6.95 a month seemed too good to be true :)
Does anyone know of a good hosting provider? Low cost + reliable + tons of storage space + bandwidth?
...and who won't shut down your site if it gets busy...
Posted by JC at 8:55 AM | Comments (20) | TrackBack (0)
New Support WIKI from Cisco | Posted to Direct from Cisco
Cisco has released a new BETA support WIKI that allows you to quickly see a tone of (alphabetized) support articles for any platform, IOS, etc... That you want.
Seems real nice - check this one out: http://supportwiki.cisco.com/
Posted by JC at 10:52 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Goodbye Linksys, Goodbye... | Posted to Direct from Cisco
According to Network World magazine, Cisco will be phasing out the Linksys name much faster than expected. Now...if they could just add the IOS to my $39.00 Linksys vonage router...
Posted by JC at 9:12 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
My Latest Brilliant Idea | Posted to General
As you I'm sure have figured out, I've been enthralled with this GNS3 product. But there's a few problems that I've hit:
First Problem: Every time I recommend GNS3 to someone, they get all excited until they find out they need a copy of the IOS to run it. The next question becomes, "So where to I get that?" At which point, I'm forced to mutter something about using someone's SmartNet contract. And I honestly feel bad! There's so many people that want to learn Cisco that can't get a copy of the IOS from somewhere.
Second Problem: Even if you DO get a copy of the IOS and get GNS3 set up, you end up in a, "what now?" scenario. Let me describe...When I teach Cisco classes, I always encourage people to get some lab equipment from Ebay...but I know a lot of people do this, get all this shiny, racked equipment in place and then don't know what to do with it. It was the same feeling for me when I got GNS3 running - beautiful program, but left me with a, "okay...I've got this great network topology...what now?"
So...we come to my brilliant idea: as I'm showering this morning, it suddenly hits me (this is where most my brilliant thoughts originate) - we need LABS for GNS3. And, access to these GNS3 labs needs to be hosted on a website. Let's see if I can describe this in writing: I want to create a web page that has tons of labs - some could be certification-based, others could just be methods to set up cool configurations. If someone clicks on the lab, they get a visual network diagram followed by a lab description (and steps). If they click on one of the devices, it opens a remote telnet session to a GNS3 setup hosted on a server (this eliminates the first problem above).
Tell me you're not getting excited about this idea - my brainstorming continues...
The labs would either be free or VERY low cost (50 cents or a dollar per lab?) to cover the cost of hosting this solution. I HATE when lab companies that charge hundreds of dollars for something like this. Perhaps it's all free with PayPal donations accepted...who knows?
There's still missing links to my idea:
1. Need a scripting system that resets the labs (router configurations) when someone finishes.
2. Coding the webpage...obviously, if you look at this website...web coding is not my specialty. Actually...I hate web coding.
So...obviously, I'm going to need some help making this happen. Honestly, I would just love to write the labs - if only I knew a web developer who could build a site like this...
...ehem...IF ONLY I KNEW A WEB DEVELOPER WHO COULD BUILD A SITE LIKE THIS.
Sorry. Had to clear my throat. I just registered GNS3Labs.com :o). Only time will tell what it becomes.
Posted by JC at 5:17 AM | Comments (25) | TrackBack (0)
GNS3 Now Available for Apple | Posted to GUI Utilities
...and the world was a better place.
Posted by JC at 12:22 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
GNS3 0.4.1 Release | Posted to General
GNS3 continues to get better every release. For those who haven't heard, GNS3 is Cisco network simulation emulation software that allows you to run the REAL IOS in a lab environment between multiple simulated emulated devices. This release now allows you to emulate 1700 routers and PIX firewalls! Killer.
There's plenty of talk that GNS3 will soon support virtual PCs in the lab environment.
I also stumbled upon another blog who has some great reading / tutorials on setting up and configuring GNS3: http://www.blindhog.net/. Kudos to all the video tutorials on the site!
Posted by JC at 1:37 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)