Recommended books about switch network

Written by networking veteran with 20 years of experience, Network Warrior provides a thorough and practical introduction to the entire network infrastructure, from cabling to the routers. What you need to learn to pass a Cisco certification exam such as CCNA and what you need to know to survive in the real world are two very different things. The strategies that this book offers weren 't on the exam, but they 're exactly what you need to do your job well. Network Warrior takes you step by step through the world of hubs, switches, firewalls, and more, including ways to troubleshoot a congested network, and when to upgrade and why. Along the way, you 'll gain an historical perspective of various networking features, such as the way Ethernet evolved. Based on the author 's own experience as well as those he worked for and with, Network Warrior is a Cisco-centric book, focused primarily on the TCP/IP protocol and Ethernet networks -- the realm that Cisco Systems now dominates. The book covers: The type of networks now in use, from LANs, WANs and MANs to CANs The OSI Model and the layers involved in sending data Hubs, repeaters, switches, and trunks in practice Auto negotiation and why it 's a common problem in network slowdowns Route maps, routing protocols, and switching algorithms in Cisco routers The resilient Ethernet -- how to make things truly redundant Cisco 6500 multi-layer switches and the Catalyst 3750 switch Telecom nomenclature -- why it 's different from the data world T1 and DS3 Firewall theory, designing access lists, authentication in Cisco devices Server load balancing technology Content switch module in action Designing QOS and what QOS does not do IP design andsubnetting made easy The book also explains how to sell your ideas to management, how networks become a mess as a company grows, and why change control is your friend. Network Warrior will help network administrators and engineers win the complex battles they face every day.

I was a little weary of the book because the person who told me to buy it is best friends with the author. After reading it I think that the author is one of the best writers I have seen in a long time. The book presents a ton of interesting information and quickly explains complex concepts that I didn't understand until I read it. The book is also a very personal piece of literature. I was surprised to find that the author actually talks to the audience as I have read over 90 I.T. books and most of them are a joke here and there but mainly dry and strictly informational. This was a refreshing book to read and quite different from what I was expecting. Out of all of my books it's on the top ten list.

if ur not a CCIE or CCNP, u SHOULD have this book in ur bookshelf.

Another O'Reilly masterpiece. A must have for techs moving into the Cisco world. A lot a real world knowledge that will fill in the gaps left my many of the standard training texts. If you want to give a new CCNA something as a gift this is it.

Just as the book claims - the book has on the job information essential for the new network administrator that can pass the CCNA but lacks experience in the field. While the CCNAs main focus is routing and switching on small networks, this book covers the knowledge gaps in supporting the campus network in areas including the firewall, multi layer switching, SVI's, HSRP, QoS/CoS, supporting VOIP and so on. What was immediately beneficial was the anecdotal chapters on GAD's maxims and chapter 38 titled "avoiding frustration" where the very common problems with "IT politics" always mess with the "perfect design" and the engineers ego. This book, will take your knowledge to the next step after the CCNA and get you set on a path towards supporting larger networks in the "real world" and eventually going after the CCNP. This book is on the top shelf in my library.

I am a network engineer, pretty new at it though. This book is my constant companion. I have had more questions answered from this book than from any 2 other sources combined. I travel alot for business and at 2am its hard to find someone to answer my questions. This thing hits the spot.

Fundamentals of Power Electronics, Second Edition, is an up-to-date and authoritative text and reference book on power electronics. This new edition retains the original objective and philosophy of focusing on the fundamental principles, models, and technical requirements needed for designing practical power electronic systems while adding a wealth of new material.
Improved features of this new edition include:

• A new chapter on input filters, showing how to design single and multiple section filters;
• Major revisions of material on averaged switch modeling, low-harmonic rectifiers, and the chapter on AC modeling of the discontinuous conduction mode;
• New material on soft switching, active-clamp snubbers, zero-voltage transition full-bridge converter, and auxiliary resonant commutated pole. Also, new sections on design of multiple-winding magnetic and resonant inverter design;
• Additional appendices on Computer Simulation of Converters using averaged switch modeling, and Middlebrook's Extra Element Theorem, including four tutorial examples; and
• Expanded treatment of current programmed control with complete results for basic converters, and much more.

This edition includes many new examples, illustrations, and exercises to guide students and professionals through the intricacies of power electronics design.
Fundamentals of Power Electronics, Second Edition, is intended for use in introductory power electronics courses and related fields for both senior undergraduates and first-year graduate students interested in converter circuits and electronics, control systems, and magnetic and power systems. It will also be an invaluable reference for professionals working in power electronics, power conversion, and analog and digital electronics.

This is the best book on Power Electronics . The other good book is by Ned Mohan on Power Electronics . These are the 2 best books in the market for Power Electronics . I bought a lot of books on Power Electronics such as the one by Philip Krein , one by Kassakien , one by Rashid , one by Bose and this is my advice --- ONLY BUY THE ABOVE 2 BOOKS and SAVE YOUR MONEY . The concepts in this great book on Power Electronics are explained better than the one by Ned Mohan but I think the Ned Mohan book covers more concepts . If you are a student taking Power Electronics course and need a solid textbook , this is a bargain . Highly recommended -- 5 stars .

Erickson/Maksimovic has a really good switching power supply program going on at the University of Colorado, Boulder (COPEC). This text augments that program. The text covers all the necessities to become well versed in switching power supply design: DC transfer, small signal AC analysis, efficiency analysis, classical control theory, etc. Every imaginable combination of power supply topology is examined...some very useful, some not so, both continuous and discontinuous conduction modes are analyzed, and powerful analysis concepts such as Middlebrooks extra element theorem, and classical control theory are also offered.

This text is not cook book. So the weekend hobbyist will not have much use for this book. It is however, is powerfully practical, and insightful and provides the tools necessary if you intend on contributing in this field.

This book is realy the most comprehensive and useable analysis of switch mode power I have seen. I would highly recommend for anyone who is designing or analyzing switch mode power.

I would like like to see the authors publish a solutions handbook for the chapter problems.

No matter how much or how little you know about power electronics,
fundamentals of Power Electronics by Erickson & Maksimoviac is the bible on power. Thorough, extremely well written full of references when you need to go deeper into any subject. Excellent problems with every chapter
and very well organized

This book is one of the best, most thorough and well explained textbooks I have encountered in the past 5 years of school. The authors, one of whom is teaching my course, present their explanations in a way that is both thorough and accessible. This is not a cookbook by any means - it is a very solid, detailed foundation for power electronics, and doesn't gloss over the important concepts like other books in the field. If you're just looking for a reference book with equations, circuits, and tables, this isn't for you. However, if you're looking for a text to study and understand in detail, you'll be right at home.

This book, when read and studied regularly, is very easy to follow and concepts are driven-home with solid examples. Very well done.

This much-needed update to the bestselling guide on the extensive changes to the local area networks (LAN) switching technologies explains why LAN switching technologies are critical to network design. This in-depth guide covers the capabilities, application, and design of LAN switches and switched internetworks and examines the significant changes that have taken place since the publication of the first edition seven years ago. You�fre sure to appreciate the witty writing style and easy-to-follow format on such an often-complicated subject matter.

So much of what is commonplace today was once considered impossible, or at least wishful thinking. Laser beams in the operating room, cars with built-in guidance systems, cell phones with email access. There's just no getting around the fact that technology always has, and always will be, very cool. But technology isn't only cool; it's also very smart. That's why one of the hottest technological trends nowadays is the creation of smart homes. At an increasing rate, people are turning their homes into state-of-the-art machines, complete with more switches, sensors, and actuators than you can shake a stick at. Whether you want to equip your home with motion detectors for added security, install computer-controlled lights for optimum convenience, or even mount an in-home web cam or two purely for entertainment, the world is now your oyster. Ah, but like anything highly technical, creating a smart home is typically easier said than done. Thankfully, Smart Home Hacks takes the guesswork out of the process. Through a seemingly unending array of valuable tips, tools, and techniques, Smart Home Hacks explains in clear detail how to use Mac, Windows, or Linux to achieve the automated home of your dreams. In no time, you'll learn how to turn a loose collection of sensors and switches into a well-automated and well-functioning home no matter what your technical level may be. Smart Home Hacks covers a litany of stand-alone and integrated smart home solutions designed to enhance safety, comfort, and convenience in new and existing homes. Kitchens, bedrooms, home offices, living rooms, and even bathrooms are all candidates for smart automation and therefore are all addressed in Smart Home Hacks. Intelligently written by engineering guru and George Jetson wannabe, Gordon Meyer, Smart Home Hacks leaves no stone unturned. From what to purchase to how to use your remote control, it's the ultimate guide to understanding and implementing complete or partial home automation.

I'm a SW developer and I just got this book because I was curious about Home Automation, I had no idea about it and this book really cleared my mind easy reading and amazingly easy to implement If you're a beginner I totally recommend it!

I am very into the X-10 gadgets and have been for several years. This book was intended for the average homeowner interested in inexpensive home security. The only thing it lacks is diagrams and layouts for the systems it covered.

This book presents a great variety of ideas for using the X10 protocol. I'm sure every reader will find several ideas or projects interesting enough to try.

Although I've been using X10 products for over five years, I have found this book to be a very useful reference. What I like about it is that it starts off with the very basics and move through to the esoteric ... something for everyone.

I recommend this book to the beginner or to the experienced. I'm glad I bought it: I refer to it all the time.

"Smart Home Hacks" provides a basic introduction to X10-based home automation, a technology that's been around since the 1970s. For the most part, the book just scratches the surface of the subject and often goes off on unrelated tangents, such as an example of how to build a robot lawnmower. What's missing is a more comprehensive overview of X10-compatible modules and the different ways they might be used to solve home automation problems. For example, irrigation is a very practical application that's ideal for a computer, and there are X10-based models, such as the Rain8 made by WGL designs. But the author chooses to ignore irrigation because of a perceived flooding hazard, even though the Rain8 has an internal limiter that shuts off the water even if no X10 "off" signal is received. Many pages are devoted to computer automation systems sending text-base messages, but no mention is made of voice-based solutions which are much more practical and cost-effective. The newer software applications that are available are impressive but it's amazing how primitive the available hardware is. The book fails to mention one of the biggest obstacles to X10 deployment: the need for a "neutral" (white) wire in household wiring. Since most light switches are wired with a simple 2-wire loop-back for economic reasons, it would require expensive re-wiring to use X10 switches. And, unless I missed it, it fails to discuss the problem of X10 signals not being passed to the "other side" of typical 2-phase house wiring. Only a passing mention is made to the new INSTEON technology that improves upon the old X10 protocol. So, although the book appears to be "current" it reads like it was written five years ago. "Smart Home Hacks" works best as sort of an idea cookbook. You'll find yourself bouncing around from one "recipe" to another but often finding most cool ideas can't be cooked up because of various obstacles (cost, permits, electronic expertise, obscure hardware, and so on).

SMART HOME HACKS: Tips & Tools for Automating Your House
Gordon Meyer
O'Reilly Media Inc.
ISBN: 0-596-00722-1

For years we have heard of how computers can provide benefits around the house. Television news programs show research labs using computers in conjunction with special equipment for recording or controlling test. I have often wondered, "How is this accomplished?"

Smart Home Hacks introduces you to previously hidden benefits our computers can provide. With software available for Macintosh and other operating systems we learn to control many items in and around our home from our computer's CPU.

How is this done... using the existing 120 VAC wiring in our walls to transmit and receive signals via X10 transmitter and receivers around your house. Whether controlling 12 volt landscaping lights, the timing cycles for your pool pump, or simply turning lights and sound on and off for security reasons, from the ground up Gordon Meyer's Smart Home Hacks explains the process.

Your computer can send messages to your cell phone, pager, or e-mail account. Driveway lights can be set to come on and remain on for a given period of time, and sprinkler systems can be controlled by your home computer. Meyer takes readers from the basics of X10 codes to starting your hot tub and having it ready when you get home.

For those wanting a computer to work for them this book even shows you how to monitor and plot heating oil fuel consumption. With broadband Internet service you can monitor Fido's actions when you are away from the house by adding video camera(s) and a link to the Internet.

To add cost effectiveness to a home, SMART HOME HACKS: Tips & Tools for Automating Your House is a great addition to a home library. Additionally, it should be considered as an ideal gift.

Get started using Cisco technologies quickly and easily

Here is a fully updated edition of the bestselling introductory guide to Cisco products and technologies. Cisco: A Beginner's Guide, Fourth Edition provides you with a practical hands-on resource for successfully designing and managing a Cisco network. Learn to work with Cisco routers and switches, wireless technologies, and storage tools. You'll also get full details on network security, including firewalls, as well as communications solutions such as VoIP. This is a must-have resource for anyone interested in internetworking and Cisco technologies.

• Work with Cisco's Internet technologies
• Configure Cisco routers and networks
• Understand Cisco internetworking technologies including LAN switches, multilayered switching, and VLANs
• Secure your network using CiscoSecure ACS, Cisco PIX firewall, IOS Firewall, and other methods
• Enable wireless internetworking using the Cisco Aironet and Airespace products
• Deploy VoIP via Cisco Unified Communications
• Implement Cisco storage area network (SAN) and content delivery network (CDN) solutions
• Use both open standard routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP) and Cisco-proprietary protocols (IGRP and EIGRP)
• Design, manage, and troubleshoot a robust Cisco network

�|

You generally can't pick up knowledge of Cisco products casually, the way you can learn about Microsoft Windows, Unix, and other products that are more generally accessible. For this reason, Cisco: A Beginner's Guide performs a valuable service. It introduces internetworking novices to the language and fact base that underlie routers, switches, network protocols, and the rest of the Internet's infrastructure. True enough, no book can teach you everything you need to know about a subject as complex as internetworking, but this one does a great job of giving you the background you need to perform well in a class or do hands-on experiments intelligently.

The book goes heavy on prose, enabling you to slowly absorb the truth about complex systems as the author lays a foundation of knowledge and then builds upon it. Conceptual diagrams help drive home relationships among network devices, though the blueprints in the center of the book suffer from being split down the middle by the book's binding--foldouts would have been far better. This is a superb book, though, one of the best around on internetworking with Cisco. It would make an excellent first purchase for a future Cisco expert or a fine "fundamentals" reference for more accomplished network engineers. --David Wall

Topics covered: Internetworking from a theoretical standpoint, backed up by information on how Cisco products handle implementation (meaning, in part, that you get information on which Cisco lines and models are good for which jobs). Technically, readers get the goods on Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS), routers, switches, routing protocols, and security. There's great information on the pantheon of Cisco certifications too.

Ordered this book and didn't need it in the end. Seemed like it took a while to get to me though. Surely I'll need in for the field I am in so it will get put to use. Arrived in new condition though.

I was looking for an objective and well written book introducing the Cisco product line and I found it. I had originally found the 2nd edition in the library and enjoyed it so much I ordered it on Amazon and found that there was a very recent 4th edition.

The authors know their Cisco networking and are not afraid to mention some of the shortcomings of Cisco along with the many positive points. It's also nice to read a data book by authors who have a sense of humor. Sometimes the dryness of the writing of most data guides is exhausting. The authors should be congratulated on a fine series of books. Thank you.

Toby and Anthony Velte have done a superb job on this book. I have been an IT professional for over 12 years. I have owned an ISP and consulted with many companies regarding their network infrastructures. The title of this book almost made me pass it up. I'm glad I didn't. I found myself reading this book and looking forward to the next chapter. This book is a good overview of Cisco Fusion architectures, and how to apply it in a real, pragmatic way. It was refreshing how complex technologies and ideas were made simple by good writing. This book is pure candy for an IT professional and a must read for any network engineer or designer. I'll be keeping my eyes open for any other books authored by Toby and Anthony Velte.

This is a very practical book. If you are just entering the field of networking or would like to get a broad yet solid coverage of Cisco technologies, including firewalls, switches and routers, this book is an excellent choice! There are many certification oriented books on the market, and Cisco online publications may be hard to grasp sometimes (especially for novice users)... This book definitely fills the gap. You start off with the introduction to Cisco. Chapter two gives you a short networking primer. Subnetting can be a killer, so you may actually need some additional help outside this book. So step by step, whether it is about protocols, appliances, topologies, network design, security - you will learn and understand a lot! I also appreciate the authors including excellent illustrations, making the book even easier to "digest". This book is must have!

An awful lot of computer books seem to leave out the first forty pages that should give you an introduction of just what it is that we are trying to do with this piece of hardware or software. This whole book, all 768 pages of it can be considered the first forty pages of any Cisco or Networking book that you might otherwise want to read.

This book talks about the internet, not about how to surf to a web page, but about the underlying structure - the backbone, the protocols, the way a message gets from here to there and back. The orientation is, as you might guess from the title, towards Cisco equipment. But I doubt that there are very many ISPs that don't have at least one Cisco box.

The book covers the Cisco philosophy on routers, switches, quality of service, security, wireless, content delivery, protocols, network management, network design, and finally even how to troubleshoot Cisco networks.

This is not a manual or certification cram guide for say the Cisco 12000 series router. This is the first forty pages of the manual on those products. And after reading the first forty pages, you might know if you need a Series 12000, or a Series 800. You'll at least be able to understand the manuals on these pieces of equipment.

Excellent book. I'd like to see the same thing on PC's, mainframes, clustering, and on and on.

Radia Perlman's Interconnections is recognized as a leading text on networking theory and practice. It provides authoritative and comprehensive information on general networking concepts, routing algorithms and protocols, addressing, and the mechanics of bridges, routers, switches, and hubs. This Second Edition is expanded and updated to cover the newest developments in the field, including advances in switching and bridge technology, VLANs, Fast Ethernet, DHCP, ATM, and IPv6. Additional new topics include IPX, AppleTalk, and DECnet. You will gain a deeper understanding of the range of solutions possible and find valuable information on protocols for which documentation is not readily available elsewhere. Written by the inventor of many of the algorithms that make switching and routing robust and efficient, Interconnections, Second Edition offers an expert's insight into how and why networks operate as they do. Perlman describes all of the major networking algorithms and protocols in use today in clear and concise terms, while exploring the engineering trade-offs that the different approaches represent. The book contains extensive coverage of such topics as: *The spanning tree algorithm *The differences between bridges, routers, and switches *Virtual LANs (VLANs) and Fast Ethernet *Addressing and packet formats for IP, IPv6, IPX, CLNP, AppleTalk, and DECnet *Autoconfiguration of addresses; strategies in various protocol suites *Routing protocols, including RIP, IS-IS, OSPF, PNNI, NLSP, and BGP *Layer 3 multicast protocols, including IGMP, DVMRP, MOSPF, CBT, PIM, BGMP, Simple Multicast, and Express *Sabotage-proof routing *Protocol design folklore 0201634481B04062001

This latest release of Interconnections is a competent update of a networking classic. Radia Perlman explains hundreds of details about getting computers--and computer networks--to talk to one another smoothly, accurately, and efficiently. Perlman, inventor of the spanning-tree bridging algorithm, covers the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model, bridges, switches, hubs, Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), plus connection-based and connectionless networks. She also does a great job of explaining the underpinnings of internetworking protocols, including packet format, addressing, routing (both generically and in terms of RIP, RTMP, OSPF, and other protocols), and security. There's plenty of IPv6 information here, mostly from a theoretical vantage point.

The best parts of Perlman's approach to her subject are the little thought experiments that explain why various aspects of internetworking behave the way they do. For example, Perlman talks about Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) discovery by presenting four different hypotheses for figuring out MTU. For each possible solution, she discusses strengths, weaknesses, and real-life considerations. She applies this method to dozens of other problems and phenomena, making Interconnections a very close approximation of learning by experiment. --David Wall

Topics covered: Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model, bridges, switches, hubs, Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), and internetworking protocols.

Radia Perlman, author of this book, is one of these great people who pioneered the technology which we today know as the Internet. Her book no doubt should be one of the best in the industry to understand this technology, and so it is. She is also famous for inventing the spanning tree protocol, on which today switches work in almost all major networks. She is an authority on the Internet technology and this makes her book an all time best book, both for reference purposes and for learning purposes.

Anybody who wants to learn more about how the Internet works or networks work, this book is a must have.

This is one of these books which never get old. As a professional in the TCP/IP industry, I know that best material on this subject was published in 90s and is still used for reference. And this book is still newer.

"Interconnections 2nd Edition - Bridges, Routers Switches and Internetworking Protocols" by Radia Perlman is simply a magnificent book. This book is a one-stop introduction to both Layer 2 and Layer 3 of the OSI model. This book will not teach you how to configure equipment - but what this book will teach you is how different protocols interact with each other. Most books only focus on either layer 2 or layer 3, but this is the one book that discusses both layers better than most books discuss each layer individually!

Some typos that I noticed in the 2nd edition:

Page 186 - concerning the 4th bullet - a router would fragment a 1,200 byte packet to a 1,000 byte packet and a 200 byte packet - not a 1,000 byte packet and 2,000 byte packet.

Page 209 - The IPv6 address that starts as FEA0::/10 should really be FEC0::/10

It is obvious when reading this book that Perlman is writing about a subject that she both has mastered and cares deeply about. She holds over 50 patents and has earned her Ph.D. from M.I.T. Simply a great book.

I give this book 5 pings out of 5:
!!!!!

This book is a fantastic voyage through the world of networking. For newbies, it presents complex ideas in an easy-to-understand and entertaining way, keeping you away from an alphabet soup of acronyms. But, it also appeals to experts as well, with its insider's view of the design of various network protocols. Even with many years of networking under my belt, I found myself reading this book constantly saying, "So, that's why they did it that way!" The wealth of information in this book should not be overlooked. The writing style is also crisp, clear, and highly engaging.

I've never read a technical book by someone with such an enormous ego.

This cover and explain the details about Network

A complete, concise reference for implementing the most important features of the Cisco Catalyst family of switches

• Review detailed and comparative configuration steps for features of the COS and Cisco IOS Software operating systems
• Understand basic system and operating system management
• Configure Ethernet, EtherChannel, Token Ring, and ATM LANE interfaces
• Deploy VLANs, private VLANs, trunking, VTP, and dynamic port membership
• Understand STP operation, configuration, and tuning
• Configure and use Cisco Catalyst hardware for Layer 3 switching and redundancy
• Discover how Cisco Catalyst switches handle multicast traffic and interact with multicast routers
• Implement broadcast suppression, protocol filtering, user authentication, port security, and VLAN access lists
• Set up switches for logging, SNMP and RMON management, and port analysis
• Configure voice gateway modules, inline power, and QoS features needed to transport voice traffic

Cisco Catalyst switches, a common ingredient in many campus, metropolitan, enterprise, and service provider networks, are complex devices that require many configuration steps for proper operation. Not only are the required commands difficult to remember, but locating reference material on them also requires extensive research that is both time- consuming and difficult to complete in the field. Cisco Field Manual: Catalyst Switch Configuration is a quick and portable reference guide to the most commonly used features that can be configured on Cisco Catalyst switches.

Derived from the authors' notes about how to configure a variety of Cisco Catalyst features during the course of their preparation for the CCIE(r) exam, Cisco Field Manual: Catalyst Switch Configuration is an indispensable tool that helps you perform the most popular deployment tasks. From the first page, the authors zero in on quick facts, configuration steps, and explanations of configuration options in each Cisco Catalyst feature. The different variations of the Cisco Catalyst operating systems (COS and Cisco IOS(r) Software) are shown together for side-by-side comparison, making it easy to move from one Cisco Catalyst platform to another.

The book presents concise implementation advice for families of Cisco Catalyst features, including configuration fundamentals, Layer 2 interface configuration, Layer 3 interface configuration, VLANs and trunking, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Layer 3 switching, multicast, server load balancing, access control, switch management, quality of service (QoS), and voice. Additional appendixes provide you with critical details on well-known ports and addresses, specialized switch modules, VLAN extension, and a cabling guide. The quick reference format allows you to easily locate just the information you need without searching through thousands of pages of documentation, saving you time and helping you to get the devices up and running quickly and smoothly.

Whether you are looking for a handy, portable reference to more easily configure Cisco Catalyst switches in the field, or you are preparing for CCNA(r), CCNP(r), or CCIE certification, you will find Cisco Field Manual: Catalyst Switch Configuration to be an essential resource that will save you hours of research time.

I'm not writing this to discredit the book. I think it is very well done. I just think it should be made clear that this is a beginners level book. There is a lot of emphasis placed on translating cat os into native. There are also numerous examples of how to configure various topologies. I think it is very well done. However, anybody who can read and use the univercd, will have a wealth of knowledge, far beyond what can be contained in this book, within a few mouse clicks.

If you are familiar with only one of these operating systems and require knowledge of the other. This is a good buy. I always had trouble trying to interpret the logic used the catos. But, concerning gaining a deeper understanding of switching, I didn't get anything from this one.

CiscoPress's "Cisco Field Manual: Catalyst Switch Configuration" by Hucaby and McQuerry is a very strong attempt at documenting the configuration implementations of Cisco switches. Any Cisco Switching book is going to need to make a decision as soon as the first page - and that is how best to document the two separate and totally different versions of Cisco Catalyst operating systems - COS and OS. This book takes a different tact - and one that I think works very well. Instead of splitting up the two OS domains and describing each in their own respective sections - the authors have decided to show how to implement both types of commands at the same time. This little difference is profound in the way it helps demonstrate the use of each command and eliminates redundancy found in other all-in-one switching books.

It is important to note that this is not a Switching-101 book. You definitely need a decent understanding of the various subjects - Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP), Virtual-Trunking Protocol (VTP), etc... The book does a good job at discussing the different implementations of Vlans and Trunking (Chapter 6).

One reassuring item to note is that I did not find any typos in the book. I have used this book while studying for my CCIE R&S lab (I think a lot of CCIE candidates forget that the `S' in R&S stands for Switching). I have also used this book for real-world implantations. I feel the utilitarian value of this book is much higher than Hucaby and McQuerry's similar book on Router configuration.

I give this book 4 pings out of 5:
!!!.!

I am a network engineer and use the Catalyst 2900, 2950, 3500 and the 4000's on a daily basis. We do a lot of VLAN configurations, trunking using 801.q, static port access, along with other various switch configs. This book has been indispensable for my daily routines. There has not once been an instant where I couldn't find the answer to what I was trying to accomplish when configuring a Cisco Catalyst Switch. This also gives you the commands for COS and IOS and also tells you which switch supports what and which switch doesn't (example: the Catalyst 2950 supports 801.q by default, where others support ISL by default). I highly recommend this book for all your switching administrative needs.

The author has put together a very clear and concise book which is essential for engineers. Whether using it as a reference or to read it cover to cover it is well worth the purchase. A+

This book covers 2900 Series up to 6000 Series Catalyst Switches including Catlayst 3500XL and 2900MXL Series. This book is not for CCNA wannabe's, cause it doesn't include Catalyst 1900 Series. Besides, you should know Cisco Switching before attempting to read this book. This book is more help on your day to day Cisco Catalyst administration job.This book beats Cisco LAN Switching (CCIE Professional Development). It covers those topics that Cisco LAN Switching lacks - from Switch Functionality, SE Configuration, creating VLANs & Trunking, STP, Multilayer Switching, to QOS. More examples than LAN Switching.This book, together with the Cisco Routers for IP Routing Little Black Book (by: Innokenty Rudenko) and Remote Access for Cisco Networks (by: William Burton and Bill Burton), your daily administration of Cisco devices will be easy as you have never imagined. Of course you need at least a CCNA Advanced Level or a CCNP level to use these three books.I'm a CCNP/CCDA supporting Internet Data Centre / Internet Service Provider Core Routers/Distribution Switches/Access Switches and I found that this book is valuable to my daily administration tasks. I highly recommend this book for Cisco Catalyst administrators.

LAN Switch Security: What Hackers Know About Your Switches

A practical guide to hardening Layer 2 devices and stopping campus network attacks

Eric Vyncke

Christopher Paggen, CCIE�� No. 2659

Contrary to popular belief, Ethernet switches are not inherently secure. Security vulnerabilities in Ethernet switches are multiple: from the switch implementation, to control plane protocols (Spanning Tree Protocol [STP], Cisco�� Discovery Protocol [CDP], and so on) and data plane protocols, such as Address Routing Protocol (ARP) or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). LAN Switch Security explains all the vulnerabilities in a network infrastructure related to Ethernet switches. Further, this book shows you how to configure a switch to prevent or to mitigate attacks based on those vulnerabilities. This book also includes a section on how to use an Ethernet switch to increase the security of a network and prevent future attacks.

Divided into four parts, LAN Switch Security provides you with steps you can take to ensure the integrity of both voice and data traffic traveling over Layer 2 devices. Part I covers vulnerabilities in Layer 2 protocols and how to configure switches to prevent attacks against those vulnerabilities. Part II addresses denial-of-service (DoS) attacks on an Ethernet switch and shows how those attacks can be mitigated. Part III shows how a switch can actually augment the security of a network through the utilization of wirespeed access control list (ACL) processing and IEEE 802.1x for user authentication and authorization. Part IV examines future developments from the LinkSec working group at the IEEE. For all parts, most of the content is vendor independent and is useful for all network architects deploying Ethernet switches.

After reading this book, you will have an in-depth understanding of LAN security and be prepared to plug the security holes that exist in a great number of campus networks.

Eric Vyncke has a master�fs degree in computer science engineering from the University of Li��ge in Belgium. Since 1997, Eric has worked as a Distinguished Consulting Engineer for Cisco, where he is a technical consultant for security covering Europe. His area of expertise for 20 years has been mainly security from Layer 2 to applications. He is also guest professor at Belgian universities for security seminars.

Christopher Paggen, CCIE�� No. 2659, obtained a degree in computer science from IESSL in Li��ge (Belgium) and a master�fs degree in economics from University of Mons-Hainaut (UMH) in Belgium. He has been with Cisco since 1996 where he has held various positions in the fields of LAN switching and security, either as pre-sales support, post-sales support, network design engineer, or technical advisor to various engineering teams. Christopher is a frequent speaker at events, such as Networkers, and has filed several U.S. patents in the security area.

Contributing Authors:

Jason Frazier is a technical leader in the Technology Systems Engineering group for Cisco.

Steinthor Bjarnason is a consulting engineer for Cisco.

Ken Hook is a switch security solution manager for Cisco.

Rajesh Bhandari is a technical leader and a network security solutions architect for Cisco.

• Use port security to protect against CAM attacks

• Prevent spanning-tree attacks

• Isolate VLANs with proper configuration techniques

• Protect against rogue DHCP servers

• Block ARP snooping

• Prevent IPv6 neighbor discovery and router solicitation exploitation

• Identify Power over Ethernet vulnerabilities

• Mitigate risks from HSRP and VRPP

• Stop information leaks with CDP, PaGP, VTP, CGMP and other Cisco ancillary protocols

• Understand and prevent DoS attacks against switches

• Enforce simple wirespeed security policies with ACLs

• Implement user authentication on a port base with IEEE 802.1x

• Use new IEEE protocols to encrypt all Ethernet frames at wirespeed.

This security book is part of the Cisco Press�� Networking Technology Series. Security titles from Cisco Press help networking professionals secure critical data and resources, prevent and mitigate network attacks, and build end-to-end self-defending networks.

Category: Cisco Press�|Security

Covers: Ethernet Switch Security

$60.00 USA / $69.00 CAN

LAN Switch Security: What Hackers Know About Your Switches

A practical guide to hardening Layer 2 devices and stopping campus network attacks

Eric Vyncke

Christopher Paggen, CCIE�� No. 2659

Contrary to popular belief, Ethernet switches are not inherently secure. Security vulnerabilities in Ethernet switches are multiple: from the switch implementation, to control plane protocols (Spanning Tree Protocol [STP], Cisco�� Discovery Protocol [CDP], and so on) and data plane protocols, such as Address Routing Protocol (ARP) or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). LAN Switch Security explains all the vulnerabilities in a network infrastructure related to Ethernet switches. Further, this book shows you how to configure a switch to prevent or to mitigate attacks based on those vulnerabilities. This book also includes a section on how to use an Ethernet switch to increase the security of a network and prevent future attacks.

Divided into four parts, LAN Switch Security provides you with steps you can take to ensure the integrity of both voice and data traffic traveling over Layer 2 devices. Part I covers vulnerabilities in Layer 2 protocols and how to configure switches to prevent attacks against those vulnerabilities. Part II addresses denial-of-service (DoS) attacks on an Ethernet switch and shows how those attacks can be mitigated. Part III shows how a switch can actually augment the security of a network through the utilization of wirespeed access control list (ACL) processing and IEEE 802.1x for user authentication and authorization. Part IV examines future developments from the LinkSec working group at the IEEE. For all parts, most of the content is vendor independent and is useful for all network architects deploying Ethernet switches.

After reading this book, you will have an in-depth understanding of LAN security and be prepared to plug the security holes that exist in a great number of campus networks.

Eric Vyncke has a master�fs degree in computer science engineering from the University of Li��ge in Belgium. Since 1997, Eric has worked as a Distinguished Consulting Engineer for Cisco, where he is a technical consultant for security covering Europe. His area of expertise for 20 years has been mainly security from Layer 2 to applications. He is also guest professor at Belgian universities for security seminars.

Christopher Paggen, CCIE�� No. 2659, obtained a degree in computer science from IESSL in Li��ge (Belgium) and a master�fs degree in economics from University of Mons-Hainaut (UMH) in Belgium. He has been with Cisco since 1996 where he has held various positions in the fields of LAN switching and security, either as pre-sales support, post-sales support, network design engineer, or technical advisor to various engineering teams. Christopher is a frequent speaker at events, such as Networkers, and has filed several U.S. patents in the security area.

Contributing Authors:

Jason Frazier is a technical leader in the Technology Systems Engineering group for Cisco.

Steinthor Bjarnason is a consulting engineer for Cisco.

Ken Hook is a switch security solution manager for Cisco.

Rajesh Bhandari is a technical leader and a network security solutions architect for Cisco.

• Use port security to protect against CAM attacks

• Prevent spanning-tree attacks

• Isolate VLANs with proper configuration techniques

• Protect against rogue DHCP servers

• Block ARP snooping

• Prevent IPv6 neighbor discovery and router solicitation exploitation

• Identify Power over Ethernet vulnerabilities

• Mitigate risks from HSRP and VRPP

  ...

I have been promoting the need to protect access to local network infrastructures (against the insider threat) for so many years that I'm even tired of sending the same message again and again these days, but I do not give up. I never understood why if we require authentication to each and every technology resource, such as your computer operating system, servers, databases, applications, and even physical facilities, why this has not been the case to access the network. Still today, lots of local networks from big companies and organizations are "free", that is, if the attacker gets physical access to an Ethernet port (RJ-45 connector) he is in! (the network). This is one of the attacker's dreams, and we can simply mitigate this threat through the 802.1X protocol. The expansion of wireless networks has helped a lot to promote it, but still it must be applied to most wired networks out there.

802.1X is just one of the multiple additions you can make to your layer 2 security stance in order to protect the local (layer 2) network infrastructure from several attacks. Definitely, you need to stop thinking about IP (layer 3) attacks only, and move one level down. Honestly, one of the layer 2 attacks that works 99% of the times I'm running an internal penetration test is ARP spoofing or poisoning. I tried to emphasize the impact of this attack and the associated defenses on my first GIAC paper for the Incident Handler (GCIH) certification in 2003, "Real World ARP Spoofing".

The book covers most of the vulnerabilities, design flaws, and security holes associated to the layer 2 protocols we currently and extensively use on our networks, such as MAC flooding and spoofing attacks, and STP, VLAN, DHCP, ARP, PoE, HSRP, VRRP, CDP, VTP, LAP and even layer-2 IPv6 related attacks. However, and starting with the minimum privilege principle (if you don't need it, why it is enabled?), the main focus of this book (and specially Part I) is to provide the reader with the knowledge and specific details to detect these attacks and protect the network and network devices (mainly switches) against all these threats. For each protocol and attack it describes the proper settings for a secure implementation.

Parts II of the book focuses on Denial of Service (DoS and DDoS) attacks on layer 2 devices and provide an excellent overview of switches architectures, internal implementation details (mainly Cisco focused), the relationships between the Control Plane and the Data Plane, the protocols each layer deals with, and the security implications on the internal operation of switches. If you want to know how your switches really work and the security implications of enabling/disabling certain capabilities, this is the section of the book you must read.

Part III then provides an introduction to more advanced access control options, through multiple ACL types, and layer-2 authentication (802.1X). It's a good introduction to go deeper into serious layer-2 access control and authentication projects and deployments.

Simplifying the threat, the attackers have a single tool (in fact they have multiple but this is THE tool) to do real damage at layer 2, Yersinia, co-develop by a Spanish security colleague, David. We, as defenders, need to properly design and deploy all the layer 2 technologies and protocols considering the security implications of its presence on the network. Fortunately enough, the countermeasures available to mitigate layer 2 risks are available in some current network devices, mainly switches. BTW, I encourage you to use the attack tools, like Yersinia, to audit your network. Some of the book countermeasures are trivial to apply, while some others require a very carefully thought-out planning. The book provides the guidance you need to start accomplishing the goal of getting a definitive layer 2 protected network by exposing the complexity, advantages and disadvantages of each solution.

The book is structured in small, easy to read, chapters that describe each of the technologies analyzed and its operation, the security issues and attack examples, and the detection and protection mechanisms you need to apply, straight to the most relevant implementation details. It also includes practical examples and describes multiple scenarios where each countermeasure can be applied, as well as the main decision factors to apply it in a given way. If you are busy (and who is not these days?), I recommend you to select a layer 2 protocol or technology you are using, select the appropriate chapter (a 30-45 minutes read at most), and start planning and applying the related security best practices. You can repeat this chapter selection process every couple of weeks, and in 2-3 months your network will be what I would like to see on all my customers. The book allows network administrators and infosec professionals to independently digest any of the chapters and start protecting the associated technology. Obviously, the main goal should be to apply all the book recommendations to your infrastructure in the short-mid term. Unfortunately, not all the countermeasures mentioned are available in all switches; there is still lot of work to be done by the vendors to implement all them.

The book opens the doors to a whole set of layer-2 threats, but it is not a complete guide to implement all the related protections, neither a command documentation book. It is up to the reader to check his switch documentation (Cisco or others) to get the full syntax details and multiple options for each of the countermeasures detailed. If you have managed Cisco devices, you know syntax also changes between IOS/CatOS versions, so I prefer this approach rather than a detailed syntax compendium that may be unusable on my specific IOS/CatOS version.

Even this is a Cisco Press book, and obviously it is focused on the current solutions available from Cisco, it is fair to admit that Cisco is leading the networking market and includes some of the most advanced layer 2 protection mechanisms in its switches, such as port security, UUFP, root and BPDU guard, BPDU filtering and rate-limiting, VLAN and layer-2 protocols best practices, DHCP snooping, DHCP rate-limiting and validation, IP source guard, DAI (Dynamic ARP Inspection), PoE defenses, HSRP and VRRP strong authentication, 802.1X, and lots of ACLs types: . RACL, VACL, PACLs, etc. Therefore, as this is the way to go, other vendors (if they do not already have these) should provide similar protection capabilities on their layer 2 network devices.

I specially liked how the book ends up (Part IV) covering LinkSec, 802.1AE and 802.1af, future standards that will finally provide confidentiality and integrity at layer 2 at wire-speeds, similarly to what be have today in wireless networks with 802.11i (WPA and WPA2). Why don't you start checking if these standards are supported by your endpoint (client, servers, printers, VoIP phones, etc) and network devices? The sooner we use it, the better.

The only portion missing on the book IMHO is the inclusion of layer 2 QoS protocols, such as 802.1p. Apart from that, chapter 1 is a light intro to security. If you have been in the field for a while, you can directly jump over it. I think it could have been omitted.

Before reading this book, I had an extensive previous experience on layer 2 security, switches, layer 2 penetration testing, and layer 2 network security architectures and design, and I really enjoyed the book, specially its practical focus, broad scope on layer 2 issues, the format and examples. If you are a penetration tester, I'm sure you will get a few ideas too for your next challenge, and you can easily apply them as most attack tools are publicly available and included on the latest Backtrack 3 version. Definitely, if you are a network security professional or network administrator in any way, shape or form, this book must be in your shelves.

Full-review: http://radajo.blogspot.com/2008/07/security-book-review-lan-switch.html

LAN Switch Security provides enough information to leverage the most common layer 2 attacks a pentester would be interested in; MAC Flooding, VLAN Hopping, DTP attacks, and CDP Snarfing along with plenty of switching protocol details for the Cisco ninja wannabe.

With the exception of the white paper for the tool Yersinia there isn't much in the way of resources out there for conducting Layer 2 attacks and certainly nothing written to the technical level of LSS.

The discussion of Layer 2 attacks in the first few chapters of this book are excellent and easily worth the price of the book especially if you are responsible for securing switches or just breaking into and abusing them. Chapter 4's ("Are VLANS Safe?") discussion on Dynamic Trunking Protocol is probably the most valuable for pentesters. The chapter covers using Yersinia to (hopefully) turn the port the attacker is connected to into a trunk port. This enables the attacker to see all traffic on all VLANS (pretty handy). In addition to exceptional background material on switching protocols and information on breaking the different switching protocols the book gives us quality information on securing those same protocols to include a good chunk of the IOS commands to implement the recommended changes.

Pros:
-All the chapters using Yersinia for attacks and the overview of Yersinia
-The structure (Technology Overview, Discussion of the Vulnerability, Remediation) of each chapter works well
-Plenty of Cisco IOS command line specifics to get the job done
-Really good overviews of the switching protocols, how to break them, and how to secure them
-Discussion of data planes and control planes

Cons:
-Check out the cons of Richard Bejtlich & Stephen Northcutt...all valid
-No discussion of minimum lab requirements to set up a lab to reproduce the attacks
-I lost interest from part II onward, probably because most of the attacks don't give you much (if any) in the way of privileges and it got fairly deep into switching protocols I don't usually deal with and the book seems to drift. I'm not sure what happened but the book doesn't end as strong as it begins.
-Some repeating of material in different chapters

I gave the book 4 stars mostly due to editing issues, lack of lab guidance to reproduce the attacks,and the fact that I lost interest in the book toward the end. Even though I lost interest toward the end I still recommend this book for anyone interested in breaking Layer 2 or securing it.

This is a thin book, its about an inch thick. I like the way the book is layed out. First there is an overview of the technology, then the vulnerability is discussed, then a recommendation is made to correct the problem. I think the authors make excellent explanitions of the technologies without a lot of code and command line examples.

I think the detailed explanitions of the technologies are insiteful for experts as well as understandable and helpful for thoughs new to the field. This book is not going to give exaustive commandline text output. It does help explain each subject using meaningful words.

This book leaps into layer 2 action with a MAC flooding attack. In the next chapter we take aim at Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). Surely this is an intentional decision by the authors to get the reader saying where is the defense?

Chapter 4, is one of my favorites, a security discussion on VLANS including an introductory use of the attack tool, Yersinia ( the swiss army knife of layer 2 attacks). The material is challenging, very technical, but the authors take pains to be as clear as possible.

As the book moves on, with the solid foundation we build, we then consider DHCP, ARP, IPv6 discovery, Power over Ethernet, HSRP, more esoteric protocols. A real jewel is found in part II of the book, I learned so much about how a switch works ( or can be made not to work ). We finish off with Denial of Service, netflow, RMON, and worms. Well, not exactly, great book, you will never think about layer 2 the same way again. You will never think of a switch as a mindless toaster or an appliance that is not significant from a security perspective.

The beginning and the ending of the book is the reason I did not score it five stars, but let me be clear, the middle of the book is more than worth the cost of buying LAN Switch Security and the time it takes to read it. Just start at Chapter 2.

I wish the authors could have skipped chapter 1, the introduction to security. It is such a high level overview that it really does not help. Cisco book do this a lot, may I suggest that the title series manager create a really good introduction to security and just have all the Cisco books link to it. Anyone who has a prayer of understanding the stuff after Chapter 1, already knows all the content in Chapter 1. They also try to cover 802.1X in a chapter, wheeee! Other than those two nits, you have to give this book two thumbs up!

Vyncke and Paggen delve deep into Layer 2 in "LAN Switch Security", and with a twist: where the run-of-the-mill switching work mainly discusses how Layer 2 works, this book is exclusively focussed on how it breaks.

They start with straightfoward stuff, e.g. how a bridge learns MAC addresses, and how this process can be frustrated by means of flooding a switch with large numbers of spoofed MAC addresses, or how ARP poisoning can be used to play man-in-the-middle. Quickly, however, they move into more avdanced topics, like manipulating the spanning tree protocol process, VLAN hopping by means of stacking .1q tags, and a variety of indecent tricks to play on a HRSP or VRRP redundant router
setup. And that is but a tiny subset of the range they treat. Other technolgies extensively discussed are DTP, DHCP, IPv6, PoE, CDP, VTP, CoPP, NetFlow, ACLs, .1x, and .1ae. In each case the intriguing angle is "OK, we know how it works, can we learn how it breaks?".

The text is well enriched with examples, down to IOS CLI examples, and examples of attack tooling like yersinia. These examples are rather Cisco centric, but it is easy to see how the same ideas would apply generically, so that is not a big issue. What I also like it that the authors sometimes take a step back from the bits and bytes, and try to see a bigger picture, e.g. discussing the fundamental differences between data plane attacks and control plane attacks.

For each topic, the authors discuss various alternatives of mitigation, sometimes to the point where it seems rather obvious ("Disable this functionality when you do not need it", "Do not expose trunk protocols towards end stations"). I feel especialy the later chapters could have benefitted from the scruntity of a professional editor, as the text sometimes drifts away into vagueness. That is a pity, as on the whole, the book is well written.

What got me most excited about "LAN Switch Security" is that, as far as I know, no previous book was ever dedicatedly devoted to breaking Layer 2. Also, for many of the protocols discussed (CDP, VTP, DTP) it is almost impossible to find usefull detailed information in a high-level book, as these protocols are mostly only discussed in the context of certification course material, which the generally interested reader would not so easily read, and with good reason.

In my opinion this book is mandatory reading for two categories of readers. First, the network designer / administrator who is busy on a day-to-day basis designing / administrating a corporate network should read this, so he becomes actutely aware of the tremendous amount of rope they he has in his hands, and how he probably has been hanging himself with it.

Secondly, the IT security architect who has a deep knowledge of how complex systems invariably become insure systems, should read this so he gains a better knowledge of relevant aspects of Layer 2 networking.

As my colleague recently put it: "Layer 2 is big fun". I could not agree more, and heartily thank Vyncke and Paggen for finally writing the book that fills a void that had existed far too long in this area.

Dr. Jan Joris Vereijken, CISSP

Learn to Design High Performance Switches and Routers for Today's Ever Growing Internet Traffic

As Internet traffic continues to grow, and demands for quality of service become more stringent, researchers and engineers can turn to High Performance Switches and Routers for tested and proven solutions. This text presents the latest developments in high performance switches and routers, coupled with step-by-step design guidance.

More than 550 figures and examples enable readers to grasp all the theories and algorithms used for design and implementation.

The authors begin with an examination of the architecture of the Internet, as it is now and as it will be in the future. Then, they examine router architectures and their building blocks, and the challenging issues involved in designing high performance, high-speed routers. Examples of commercial high-end routers are provided.

Next, the authors discuss the main functions of the line cards of a core router, including route lookup, packet classification, and traffic management for quality of service control. The bulk of the text is then dedicated to packet switching designs. Coverage includes the various available architectures, algorithms, and technologies. Among the topics covered, readers will find detailed discussions of the latest innovations in electrical and optical packet switching. The final chapter discusses state-of-the-science commercial chipsets used to build routers. Readers learn their architecture and functions, using the theories and conceptual designs presented in the previous chapters as a foundation.

Although implementation techniques for switches and routers will continue to evolve, the fundamental theories and principles of this text will serve readers for years to come. In addition to bringing researchers and engineers up to date with the latest designs, this text, with its focus on illustrations and examples, is an ideal graduate-level textbook.

The book is average. It is only good to inform readers that an approach exists. To understand the approach and its motivation, it is better to go direct to the source. The authors do not highlight key ideas or design decisions that make an approach work. Instead, they go straight into the details without giving the overall picture. In this respect, Prof. Varghese's book, Network Algorithmic, does a much better job.

The authors describe the current Internet and its main routing methods. From this follows the basic ideas of current switches and routers. Potential bottlenecks in scaling are explained. Like the common occurrence of bursty traffic.

There is a classification scheme for switches, that can be used to understand any current switch in the marketplace. Based on switching techniques, we get time division switching and space division switching. With finer categories in each.

Overall, the book's treatment appears well-nigh exhaustive. The authors strive to give comprehensive coverage of most switches and routers. The only questionable point is the scant coverage given to IPv6. It is not discussed in any detail. Perhaps this is because current methods used for IPv4 are considered adequate for v6?

The most in-depth guide to the capabilities, application, and design of LAN switches and switched internetworksWritten by an innovator who has been at the forefront of networking technology for more than two decades, this comprehensive book covers everything you need to know about LAN switching. From understanding switch functions and features to technology integration and network management, it provides valuable insights for network planners, developers, and managers. Seifert helps you gain a clear understanding of the often-complex features and options available in LAN switches, along with detailed explanations of the latest technology enhancements-including previously unpublished information on Link Aggregation, Virtual LANs, and Layer 3 switches. Packed with the most up-to-date and complete information on LAN switches, this book:
* Explains how switches and bridges operate, and explores implementation and performance issues
* Details how switches can be deployed in both homogeneous and heterogeneous LAN environments
* Provides a comprehensive explanation of the Spanning Tree Protocol
* Covers source routing, which is available on Token Ring and FDDI networks
* Explains full duplex LAN operation and link flow control methods
* Looks at the applications and IEEE 802.3ad standard for aggregated links and their effect on system and higher-layer protocol behavior
* Introduces Virtual LANs and the IEEE 802.1Q standard
* Discusses the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) as well as other forms of itch management
* Explores the architecture and data flow through a typical switch, including an analysis of switch fabric options

This is the best technical book I have ever read. Not only is it very informative on the aspects of switching, it is extremely well written and keeps the reader's attention. I have recommended the book to many engineers and none have been disappointed.

The book is especially valuable to those who do not have much background in switching. The concepts are explained in plain language and the book provides many references for further reading.

The only negative is that the book is getting a little dated and so does not contain information on some of the latest standards and product developments. Hopefully a new edition will come out soon. But even so, I highly recommend this book.

I learned a lot from this book; lot of knowledge yet very light reading.

I am designing a network with managed switches that incorporate all the cool layer 2 stuff that I have not had much experience with, so I decided to get up-to-date and bought this book. What a wise choice I made.

About 10 years ago in my communications classes I studied Ethernet, transmission/arbitration using CSMA/CD, frame structures, etc, but forgot much of it. "The Switch Book" has everything I learned in my EE curriculum and then some. At 650 pages, almost exclusively dedicated to layer 2 of the OSI model, this book is extremely comprehensive. Considering its breadth, it is a very easy read for self study and would also make a good reference. What makes it an easy read is that it does not regurgitate the RFCs and IEEE Standards. It contains tons of examples, graphs, network diagrams, and footnotes. BTW, the footnotes are full of humor; oh, and there is even a funny poem on link aggregation. When the book gets overly technical (e.g. hardware implementations), Seifert tells the reader he can skip the section without losing continuity.

This book as helped me debug a problem I had with Spanning Tree and Link Aggregation (trunking). After reading this thick book, I feel confident that I can put an analyzer on the wire and know exactly what's happening by watching the bitstreams. Frame formats for everything are graphically represented. Even some cool stuff, like LACP, GARP, GVRP, and GMRP are covered. Ethernet, FDDI, and Token Ring are the three LAN technologies covered.

All chapters follow a similar format. Each chapter starts with theory and some (usually visual) examples. Then some technical software/hardware implementations are explained, followed by configuration and more examples. Usually, the end of the chapters discuss the history of the technology and the official standard (IEEE, technical pub, RFC, etc.).

The author mentions that much of the material was written in mid-1999. Considering its age, it is still very relevant. The only two technologies that I can think of that weren't around when this book was written are "Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol", although STP is covered, and 10GbE, which is negligible.

The bottom line is, if you need to understand layer 2, you need this book.

I have read 100's of technical books on many different subjects. I have to say this is the most well written book of any.

The author clearly knows his subject matter and explains things well. He even tells you when a particular section can be skipped without loss of meaning to the rest of the book.

I hate technical books with lame jokes. His jokes are FUNNY and worth reading.

This is a great book if you want to learn about switching concepts. The book is very detailed and a surprisingly easy read for its technical contents. It has the right mix of history and logic behind the way protocols were designed.