Audience

Audience

Cisco LAN Switching should appeal to a wide variety of people working in the network field. It is designed for any network administrator, engineer, designer, or manager who requires a detailed knowledge of LAN switching technology.

Obviously, the book is designed to be an authoritative source for network engineers preparing for the switching portion of the CCIE exams and Cisco Career Certifications. Cisco LAN Switching is not a "quick fix" guide that helps you cram (such books are virtually worthless when it comes to taking the CCIE practical exams). Instead, it focuses extensively on theory and building practical knowledge. When allied with hands-on experience, this can be a potent combination.

However, this book is designed to go far beyond test preparation. It is designed to be both a tutorial and a reference tool for a wide range of network professionals, including the following:

• People with less switching experience will benefit extensively from the foundational material discussed in Part I. This material then transitions smoothly into the more advanced subject matter discussed in later chapters.

• Network professionals with a detailed understanding of routing but new to campus switching will find that Cisco LAN Switching can open up a whole new world of technology.

• Network engineers with extensive switching experience will find Cisco LAN Switching taking them farther into the field. For example, much of the Spanning-Tree Protocol information in Part II and the real-world design information in Part V has never been published before. The Catalyst 6000 material discussed in Part VI is also completely new.

• Network designers will benefit from the state-of-the-art coverage of campus design models and the detailed discussions of opposing design strategies.

• Engineers who have already obtained their CCIE will value Cisco LAN Switching as a reference tool and for design information.