The Packet's Journey

  Packets must be routed when devices are on different networks. Next-hop IP address is identified  by a static entry, default gateway or routing protocol Device looks for next hop IP address in the ARP table and uses the MAC address from the next-hop IP as the destination MAC address.  Next-hop router receives the packet based on the destination MAC address then analyzes the destination IP address, finds its the appropriate entry in the routing table, looks for the outbound interface then finds the destination MAC address looking to see if it needs to be routed further. The router then changes the source MAC address to the MAC address of the router's outbound interface while also changing the destination MAC address to the destination device or next-hop router. This process continues on and on as needed to get the packet from the source device to the destination device With either IPv4 or IPv6 an IP address mus be assigned to an interface for a router or L3 switch to rou...

 Ports can be manually configured as access ports with the command switchport mode access. switchport access (vlan-id/vlan name) associates a specific VLAN to that port     IE:          SW1# config t          SW1(config) # vlan 99          SW1 (config-vlan) # name Guests           SW1 (config-vlan) # Interface gi1/0/15           SW1 (config-if) # switchport mode access           SW1 (config-if) # switchport access vlan 99           Trunk ports can carry mulitple VLANS.  Trunk ports are used when need to connect multiple VLANS to another switch, a router or firewall using one port. (Think router on a stick) Trunking using the 802.1Q tag to encapsulate the packet and assign to the correct VLAN To setup a trunking port use command switchport mode trunk Use command show interface...

Network - provides connectivity between devices. Almost everything is based on TCP/IP in a network. (TCP - Transmission Control Protocol, IP- Internet Protocol) TCP/IP is based on the concept of Open Systems Interconnection or the OSI Model which is composed of 7 layers. 7 Layers: Application - Interface for receiving and Sending Data Presentation - Formatting of data and encryption Session - Tracking of packets Transport - End-to-End communication between devices Network - Logical addressing and routing of packets Data - hardware addressing Physical - Media type and connector When sending data across the network starts at layer 7 moves down the OSI model then transmits across the network to its destination and moves back up from layer 1 to layer 7. *Troubleshooting should always start at Layer 1 and move up the OSI model. (Most issues that I have observed working in an ISP reside on Layer 1 or Layer 2) Chapter 1 reinforces the concepts relate to how a network device forwards traffic f...

Hey Guys, Been a bit since I have been able to post, but I've started reading the OCG CCNP and CCIE Enterprise Core ENCOR 350-401 book and will be post notes chapter by chapter. I also will be including any labs I build so that you can follow along. I will try to do 1 to 2 chapters a week as there are 29 chapters. Feel free to add in the comments and suggestions or corrections as you see them. Also I will add in occasional post that are not study related and will be my own opinions or thoughts. Happy Studying and Good Luck, -Charles

Updated! Hello Friends! Today I will be talking about the study aids I use when studying for a Cert. I generally like to study by myself because I can go at my own pace and stop to lab out a concept without having the worries of holding up a group. However on occasion I find that I need something to keep me accountable and to feel like somebody else is there. Well this has become my go to for that : Study with Me (  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQkQjPhnZw12Hj-SfsbX8w  ) The woman who does this has many different videos some with music and some without but all of them amazingly useful. MUSIC : When labbing for long periods of time I tend to listen  to fast paced music which helps me think and keeps the pace up. For this I listen to Two Steps From Hell, Audiomachine and videos from this guy's playlist  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT5RMcRGa32Th0AZ0Dxxviw . <----This playlist of videos is also good for coding/hacking ;-). BOOKS : I like hard copies...

We all need that one thing that pushes us to make the leap daring to imagine something better for ourselves and family. This moment I am describing happened to me in January of 2019 as the company I was working for just announced that we had been sold to another company. News like this can strike terror in your heart as you realize that your job could be eliminated if there is redundancy in the other company. I had not been at the company but for 5 or 6 months when this happened and having just gotten away from a terrible previous employer i was concerned because I did not have any marketable "skills" that could land me another job quickly. This is when I stumbled upon a video which began the life change. This video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCRjDwuuQOA&t=495s  made all the difference for me in a moment when I need it. I had been selected prior to seeing this video to be gifted a one year all access subscription to  https://davidbombal.com/  . This was...

Hello, My name is Charles and I am on a journey to become a network engineer. I just made a career change into IT and am working in a NOC for an ISP. I'm learning so much and wanted a place where I could put what I am learning and kind of use as living notes. My goal is to use this to discuss things I am learning as I go through the new CCNP from Cisco and any other certifications I choose to pursue. I'll blog as I have time and hopefully this will help others. -Charles