Cisco

[Diaonic]

I just got a new job. The place I'm going to work for is building the entire network from the ground up. I don't have a lot of extensive experience with cisco hardware and they know this. I'm sure they are going to send me some formal training. But in the meantime I want to get ahead of the game.

So far at my current job we have a 2600 and I have done things like:
Setting up interfaces
SNMP reporting
Access lists
changing passwords

So my question to you cisco experts, is there an online forum, primer, guide whatever that is free on the net somewhere? I have done some google searches and found some stuff but none of it is really touches on the basics and where to start.

Thanks

:sun:

 

[spidey07]

www.cisco.com

read the manual on IOS (all of it) and then read the manual for a 3750 switch.

 

[Diaonic]

I started reading this

Cisco IOS Interface Configuration Guide

It helps having a router I can sit here and read the commands and what they do and test them with no worries of taking down a network.

Thanks Spidey

 

[spidey07]

heh, I was kidding about reading the IOS manual, its like a few thousand pages.

There should be some great docs there. Router IOS is a lot more complicated than switch IOS. look up "configure 3550 switch"

-edit-
this is a really great page..it is from "support/technology support"

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/index.html

 

[ronzilla]

I find that hands-on learning works best for me. You can probably pick up some Cisco stuff to play with off of ebay. I know that people buy stuff to use while they're studying for Cisco exams and then sell it once they finish the exams.

When I first got into Cisco (thrown into it, much like you have been), I bought a "beginners guide to cisco" book that took a look at the IOS assuming the reader had never seen the IOS before. It was very helpful explaining the way that the configuration and IOS works. I'm not always a fan of buying a book for every new thing I want to do, but it might be worth a stop at B&N or Borders to see what they have to offer.

 

[imported_netman]

Great resource
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/home/home.htm