• Consists of areas and autonomous systems
• Minimizes routing update traffic
• Allows scalability
• Supports VLSM/CIDR
• Has unlimited hop count
• Allows multi-vendor deployment (open standard)

Do know these features well from CCNA point of view.

The below table compares OSPF with the distance vector routing protocols like RIP1 and RIP2

Unlike Distance vector protocols OSPF will not exchange full route updates at short interval rather the routing updates are send once there is a change in routing topology. Using the  Dijkstra algorithm,OSPF first constructs the shortest path tree and then the routing table is populated which results in best paths to the destination. Due to this behavior, OSPF is able to recalculate the routes very fast in case of topology changes or a failure in link occurred. One of the OSPF’s advantage is convergence occurs quite fast and its scalable. Currently OSPFv2 is used with IPv4 networks and IPv6 networks use OSPFv3. OSPF also supports Variable-Length Subnet Masking (VLSM) and Classless Inter-Domain-Routing (CIDR).

In upcoming post I will talk about how OSPF works? and I will compare it with RIP1 and RIP2

This Library includes the three foundation-learning guides help you understand the topics on the three CCNP exams: ROUTE, SWITCH, and TSHOOT exams. Each book includes review questions, chapter objectives, summaries, definitions, case studies, job aids, and command summaries to provide comprehensive foundational learning for the new CCNP courses.

The following topics are covered in the CCNP Routing and Switching Foundation Learning Library, once I get an access to these titles definitely you can expect a review from me. Pre order this foundation-library and avail early discount as well from Cisco Press .

SWITCH

Module 1: Analyzing Campus Network Designs
Module 2: Implementing VLANs in Campus Networks
Module 3: Implementing Spanning Tree
Module 4: Implementing Inter-VLAN Routing
Module 5: Implementing High Availability in a Campus Environment
Module 6: Implementing a First Hop Redundancy Protocols Solution
Module 7: Minimizing Service Loss and Data Theft in a Campus Module 8: Integrating Wireless LANs into a Campus Network
Module 9: Accommodating Voice and Video in Campus Networks
Appendix A Answers to Review Questions
Appendix B Configuration Exercise Equipment Requirements and Backbone Configurations

TSHOOT
Module 0: Curriculum Overview
Module 1: Planning Maintenance for Complex Networks
Module 2: Selecting Maintenance and Troubleshooting Tools and Module 3: Planning Troubleshooting Processes for Complex
Module 4: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Routing Based Solutions
Module 5: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Campus Switching Based Problems
Module 6: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Network Security Solutions
Module 7: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Network and Applications Services
Module 8: Troubleshooting Branch Office and Remote Worker Problems
Module 9: Maintaining and troubleshooting integrated, complex enterprise networks
Appendix A Answers to Review Questions
Appendix B Configuration Exercise Equipment Requirements and Backbone Configurations

ROUTE

Module 1: Planning Routing Services to Requirements
Module 2: Implementing an EIGRP-based Solution
Module 3: Implementing a Scalable Multiarea Network OSPF-based Solution
Module 4: Implement an IPv4-based Redistribution Solution
Module 5: Implement Path Control
Module 6: Configuring Policy Based Routing
Module 7: Connecting an Enterprise Network to ISP Networks
Module 8: Implementing IPv6
Module 9: Implementing Routing Facilities for Branch Offices and Mobile Workers
Appendix A Answers to Review Questions
Appendix B Configuration Exercise Equipment Requirements and Backbone Configurations

We are familiar with the traditional Cisco IOS command line interface (CLI); the CLI interface of NX-OS is pretty similar to Cisco IOS.

One of the key differences I have noted is NX-OS is when you first log into NX-OS, you go directly into EXEC ode.

NX-OS features are based on license model, where as in IOS what matter was the type of IOS you installed. A good beginning from Cisco as you can install the required features, more over you can try a 120 day license grace period for testing.  After 120 days of testing the features will be automatically removed. This is some thing you never experienced in Cisco IOS.

Cisco NX-OS has the capability to either enable or disable the features OSPF, BGP, etc. by using the feature configuration command.

I will try to come up with some more details in the upcoming post.

In my last post I reviewed the CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Cert Flash Cards Online, as its quite clear the CCNP Route 642-902 Cert Kit is a great self study tool at the later part of preparation.

The Routing Video Mentor by Kevin Wallace is an excellent certification preparation material for CCNP Certification aspirers who wants to view and learn the Cisco router configurations.

Pic Courtesy: Cisco Press

The Routing Video Mentor is designed in such a way it fulfils the requirements of CCNP Routing Certification aspirer either they are pretty new to this field or even the experienced professionals can have a quick glance which is always great to recall the concepts we might forgot. One of the greatest advantage of the Routing Video Mentor is it can be viewed any number of times until you understand the concept quite clear. The videos are presented clearly and it’s easy to understand.

The CCNP Routing Video Mentor covers everything in depth from Static routes to RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, IGP Redistribution, BGP, Policy-based routing, IPV6 etc.

The Routing Video Mentor consists of 15 labs and lab lasts for 20 – 30 minutes each.

To summarize I would say a great study asset for CCNP Route 642-902 Certification exam.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ENuv0wn5Fr0" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

The title CCNP Route 642-902 Cert Kit  is a combination of three self-study tools namely flash cards, a DVD mentor and quick reference guide. Flash cards consist of 300 exam review questions which tests your skills and enhance your retention of the following topics.

• Planning Routing Services
• Implementing an EIGRP-Based Solution
• Implementing a Multi-Area OSPF Network
• IPv4 Redistribution
• Path Control
• Policy Based Routing (PBR)
• Connecting to Internet
• Implementing an IPv6-Based Solution
• Implementing Basic Teleworker and Branch Services

Pic Courtesy:Cisco Press

The best thing I liked about the CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Cert Flash Cards Online is the you can choose to view cards in order or at random, more over you can create 10 customs sets from the entire bank of the cards and also you can write notes on each question and you have the liberty to get them in a printable PDF. It’s a good way to make notes of questions you missed and can be handy tool for final review as well.

In short the CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Cert Flash Cards Online  is quite handy and useful for the final review of the CCNP Route 642-902 exams. I strongly recommend these practice exams for CCNP aspirers especially who are new to the Cisco Networking world. This will surely boost the confidence.

CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Cert Flash Cards Online is available in both desktop and mobile device formats, allowing you to test yourself at home, at work, or on the go.
In my upcoming post I will try review the DVD which comes with theCCNP Route 642-902 Cert Kit . Until then enjoy your preparations for CCNP Route 642-902

       RIP

       OSPF

       BGP

       IS-IS

       IGRP

       EIGRP

Each routing protocol has its own Administrative Distance (AD), which is a value representing the trustworthiness of the specific routing protocol. If a router learns a destination route from two or more routing protocols, it selects the route from the protocol having the smallest Administrative Distance.

The below table shows the default Administrative Distance (AD) values for each routing protocol:

Now, if the router learns a specific destination route from both OSPF and RIP, it will select the route learned from OSPF because this protocol has a smaller AD compared to RIP (110 instead of 120).