The stated goal of Cisco Router Configuration: A Practical Introduction to Cisco IOS Configuration is to make Cisco Internetworking Operating System (IOS) easy for the uninitiated. Believe it or not, authors Allan Leinwand, Bruce Pinsky, and Mark Culpepper actually succeed. And with good reason, as the three wrote this book as employees of an international Internet service provider, Digital Island — itself an all-Cisco shop, from its routers to its switchers and its load-balancing devices — and former employees of Cisco Systems.
Though this book starts out with the usual descriptions of the OSI model and types of devices, things quickly get more interesting as the fictional ZIP Corporation and its globetrotting network are introduced. (ZIP's network serves as the baseline for discussion and illustration.)
In a testament to their knowledge and skills, Leinwand and company are incredibly thorough in their explanations, yet resist the temptation to overwhelm with too much detail. For example, the chapter on configuration takes you each step of the way, even going so far as to explain how to power up your devices. The rest of the discussion stays on course, though, telling you only what you need to know to get your routers, switches, or what have you up and running. In addition, configuring TCP/IP, AppleTalk, and Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) are covered, as are management and administrative topics — Sarah L. Roberts-Witt — This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.