Routers are the glue that connects the pieces of your network. Evenin the simplest networks, this isn't a simple task. Routers haveevolved into highly specialized computing platforms, with extremelyflexible but complex capabilities.

Managing IP Networks with Cisco Routers is a practical guide tosetting up and maintaining a production network. It discusses issueslike how to select routing protocols and how to configure protocols tohandle most common situations. It also discusses less esoteric butequally important issues like how to evaluate network equipment andvendors and how to set up a help desk. Although the book focuses onCisco routers, and gives examples using Cisco's IOS, the principlesdiscussed are common to all IP networks, regardless of the vendor youchoose.

This book is firmly grounded in the realities of day-to-day networkmanagement. It's designed to solve real-world problems, like: "How doI prevent my router from using unreliable information from otherrouters?" "How do I safeguard my router against attacks?" "How can Imake my network more reliable?" If you're building or maintaining anIP network, you'll find this book indispensable.

Topics covered include:

• Designing an IP network
• Evaluating equipment and vendors
• Selecting routing protocols
• Configuring common interior protocols (RIP, OSPF, EIGRP)
• Connecting to external networks and configuring exterior protocols (BGP)
• Ongoing network management: troubleshooting and maintenance
• Security and privacy issues