2006 San Francisco Giants Preview

2005 Overview:

Without all star Barry Bonds in their lineup the 2005 San Francisco Giants struggled to score runs and find an identity. Newcomer Moises Alou (.321 19 63) didn't quite match his 2004 numbers with Chicago when he hit 39 homers and drove in 106 runs but his bat proved a reliable addition. Joining Alou in the 2005 lineup were Mike Matheny (.242 13 59), Pedro Feliz (.250 20 81) and Ray Durham (.290 12 62) with rookie 1st baseman Lance Niekro (.252 12 46) providing the majority of offense.

Giant pitching in 2005 was led by Jason Schmidt (12 7 4.40) who fell from his 18 win season in 2004. Joining Schmidt for the bulk of the pitching duties where Noah Lowry (13-13 3.78), Brett Tomko (8-15 4.48) and newcomer Brad Hennessey (5-8 4.64). The bullpen remained stable with Tyler Walker (6-4 4.23 23 saves) and closer Armando Benitez (2-3 4.50 19 saves) combining to save a total of 42 games between the two of them.

Off Season Moves:

The Giants sought starting pitching help in the off season and look to improve with the signing of right hander Matt Morris (14-10 4.11 with the Cardinals in 2005). Morris was signed for three years, $27 million follars. Longtime starter Kirk Rueter was released and Brett Tomko signed as a free agent with the Dodgers. San Francisco traded for Baltimore's Steve Kline (2-4 4.28) and signed Tim Worrell (1-2 4.07). The team lost Scott Eyre to the Cubs via free agency. Veteran first baseman J.T. Snow, who played for 9 seasons with the Giants moved on to the Red Sox, clearing the way for young Lance Niekro to play in more games. Steve Finley (.222 12 54) was also acquired via trade with the Angels in exchange for 3rd Baseman Edgardo Alfonzo. The Giants also picked up Free Agent Mark Sweeney (.294 8 40) who matched his career high in RBI with the Padres in 2005.

2006 Analysis:

The return of slugger Barry Bonds alone should mean a better offense in 2006. Expect the Giants to be better then their 75-87 record in 2005. Finley is an interesting pickup. In 2004 he hit 36 home runs which were a career high. The Giants are hoping that Finley can have a rebound year and can perhaps hit 30 or more home runs hitting along side Bonds and Alou. Sweeney might surprise fans is allowed to hit regularly. Niekro also should blossom with better hitters around him. The lineup is much improved with a healthy Bonds returning.

If Schmidt rebounds and Matt Morris turns in a similar performance as he did last year (14 wins) then the starting rotation will be solid as well. Expect Lowry and Hennessey to also improve in 2006 with more innings under their belts. The Giants are also looking for a full season from closer Armando Benitez which should also help the bullpen. The Giants should be much better in 2006 and will chase the Padres for the NL West title.

Jack Scrafford recommends PlatinumTickets to buy San Francisco Giants tickets.

Cisco CCNA Certification: Static Routing Tutorial

In studying for your CCNA exam and preparing to earn this valuable certification, you may be tempted to spend little time studying static routing and head right for the more exciting dynamic routing protocols like RIP, EIGRP, and OSPF. This is an understandable mistake, but still a mistake. Static routing is not complicated, but it's an important topic on the CCNA exam and a valuable skill for real-world networking.

To create static routes on a Cisco router, you use the ip route command followed by the destination network, network mask, and either the next-hop IP address or the local exit interface. It's vital to keep that last part in mind - you're either configuring the IP address of the downstream router, or the interface on the local router that will serve as the exit interface.

Let's say your local router has a serial0 interface with an IP address of 200.1.1.1/30, and the downstream router that will be the next hop will receive packets on its serial1 interface with an IP address of 200.1.1.2/30. The static route will be for packets destined for the 172.10.1.0 network. Either of the following ip route statements would be correct.

R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 200.1.1.2 (next-hop IP address)

OR

R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 serial0 ( local exit interface)

You can also write a static route that matches only one destination. This is a host route, and has 255.255.255.255 for a mask. If the above static routes should only be used to send packets to 172.10.1.1., the following commands would do the job.

R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.1 255.255.255.255 200.1.1.2 (next-hop IP address)

OR

R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.1 255.255.255.255 serial0 ( local exit interface)

Finally, a default static route serves as a gateway of last resort. If there are no matches for a destination in the routing table, the default route will be used. Default routes use all zeroes for both the destination and mask, and again a next-hop IP address or local exit interface can be used.

R1(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 200.1.1.2 (next-hop IP address)

OR

R1(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 serial0 ( local exit interface)

IP route statements seem simple enough, but the details regarding the next-hop IP address, the local exit interface, default static routes, and the syntax of the command are vital for success on CCNA exam day and in the real world.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials! For my FREE "How To Pass The CCNA" or "CCNP" ebook, visit the website and download your copies. Earn your CCNA certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNP / BSCI Tutorial: Route Summarization With RIP And EIGRP

To pass your BSCI exam and earn your CCNP certification, you've got to master route summarization. When you get to the BSCI level, actually breaking the routes down into binary strings and performing summarization is second nature to you. (If it isn't, get some more practice!) What makes CCNP / BSCI route summarization more difficult is just keeping the different protocol summarization commands straight!

RIP and EIGRP both perform route summarization at the interface level with the ip summary-address command. In the following example, R2 is running RIP and was sending four routes to R3, R3's table looked like this before summarization:

R3#show ip route rip

172.16.0.0/24 is subnetted, 4 subnets

R 172.16.8.0 [120/1] via 172.23.23.2, 00:00:02, Ethernet0

R 172.16.9.0 [120/1] via 172.23.23.2, 00:00:02, Ethernet0

R 172.16.10.0 [120/1] via 172.23.23.2, 00:00:02, Ethernet0

R 172.16.11.0 [120/1] via 172.23.23.2, 00:00:02, Ethernet0

By summarizing the routes and using the ip summary-address command, RIP advertises only the summary route to the downstream neighbor.

R2(config)#int ethernet0

R2(config-if)#ip summary-address rip 172.16.8.0 255.255.252.0

R3#clear ip route *

R3#show ip route rip

172.16.0.0/22 is subnetted, 1 subnets

R 172.16.8.0 [120/1] via 172.23.23.2, 00:01:24, Ethernet0

EIGRP works much the same way, except that the EIGRP AS number must be named in the ip summary-address command.

In the following example, R2 was advertising four separate routes to R3 via EIGRP 100: 100.0.0.0, 101.0.0.0, 102.0.0.0, and 103.0.0.0, all with an eight-bit mask. What summary route can be used here?

The summary is 100.0.0.0 252.0.0.0. To send that route to downstream routers, configure the following on R2:

R2(config)#interface ethernet0

R2(config-if)#ip summary-address eigrp 100 100.0.0.0 252.0.0.0

R3 will then have only one route in its EIGRP table - the summary route.

R3#show ip route eigrp

D 100.0.0.0/6 [90/2297856] via 172.23.23.2, 00:02:33, Ethernet0

By mastering basic binary skills and keeping in mind that RIP and EIGRP perform route summarization at the interface level, you're one step closer to passing your BSCI exam and earning your CCNP certification!

In the next part of this tutorial, we'll take a detailed look at the different methods OSPF uses for route summarization.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials! For my FREE "How To Pass The CCNA" or "CCNP" ebook, visit the website and download your copies. Earn your CCNP certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNP / BSCI Tutorial: The Role Of The OSPF ASBR

To pass the BSCI exam and earn your CCNP certification, you've got to master the (many) details of OSPF. You might have thought there were quite a few OSPF details in your CCNA studies, but you'll now build on that foundation on the way to earning your CCNP.

One such detail is the role of the Autonomous System Border Router (ASBR) in OSPF. The name itself raises some eyebrows, since you learned in your CCNA studies that OSPF doesn't use autonomous systems! Just as an OSPF Area Border Router borders multiple OSPF areas, the ASBR borders the entire OSPF domain and another source of routes. This can be another dynamic routing protocol, or directly connected networks that are not being advertised into OSPF by the network command.

Let's say we have a router running both OSPF and RIP version 2. By default, the RIP process will not contain any OSPF-discovered routes, and vice versa. The two separate routing processes are just that - separate. If we want the other OSPF routers to know about the RIP routes, route redistribution must be configured. When the RIP routes are redistributed into OSPF, that router is then an ASBR.

In the below example, RIP subnets have been redistributed into OSPF. A seed metric is not necessary when redistributing routes into OSPF. The command "show ip ospf" confirms that this router is now an ASBR.

R1(config)#router ospf 1

R1(config-router)#redistribute rip subnets

R1#show ip ospf

Routing Process "ospf 1" with ID 1.1.1.1

Supports only single TOS(TOS0) routes

Supports opaque LSA

It is an autonomous system boundary router

The ASBR can also perform route summarization on the routes being injected into OSPF with the summary-address command. (To configure OSPF inter-area summarization, use the area range command.) By mastering route summarization and route redistribution, you're well on your way to passing the BSCI exam and earning your CCNP certification!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com/), home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials! For my FREE "How To Pass The CCNA" or "CCNP" ebook, visit the website and download your copies. Earn your CCNP certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNP/BSCI Certification: Route Redistribution And The Seed Metric

In the first part of this free CCNP / BSCI tutorial, we looked at how leaving one simple word out of our route redistribution configuration - "subnets" - resulted in an incomplete routing table when redistributing routes from RIP to OSPF. (If you missed that part of the tutorial, visit my website's "Free Tutorials" section.) Today, we'll look at redistributing OSPF routes into RIP and identify another common redistribution error.

We are using a three-router network. R5 is running RIP, R1 is serving as a hub between R5 and R3 and is running RIP and OSPF, and R3 is running OSPF.

To begin this lab, we'll add three loopbacks to R3 and advertise them to R1 via OSPF.

R3(config)#int loopback33

R3(config-if)#ip address 33.3.3.3 255.255.255.255

R3(config-if)#int loopback34

R3(config-if)#ip address 34.3.3.3 255.255.255.255

R3(config-if)#int loopback35

R3(config-if)#ip address 35.3.3.3 255.255.255.255

R3(config-if)#router ospf 1

R3(config-router)#network 33.3.3.3 0.0.0.0 area 1

R3(config-router)#network 34.3.3.3 0.0.0.0 area 1

R3(config-router)#network 35.3.3.3 0.0.0.0 area 1

R1 sees all three of these routes in its routing table.

R1#show ip route ospf

34.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O IA 34.3.3.3 [110/65] via 172.12.123.3, 00:00:55, Serial0

35.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O IA 35.3.3.3 [110/65] via 172.12.123.3, 00:00:45, Serial0

33.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O IA 33.3.3.3 [110/65] via 172.12.123.3, 00:00:55, Serial0

We'll now redistribute these routes into RIP on R1. Remember the "subnets" option we talked about in the first part of this tutorial? There is no such option when redistributing OSPF routes into RIP, as IOS Help shows us.

R1(config)#router rip

R1(config-router)#redistribute ospf 1 ?

match Redistribution of OSPF routes

metric Metric for redistributed routes

route-map Route map reference

vrf VPN Routing/Forwarding Instance

R1(config-router)#redistribute ospf 1

The routes have been redistributed into RIP with the redistribute ospf 1 command. (The "1" is the OSPF process number.) Let's look at R5 and see the results.

R5#show ip route rip

R5#

The routes aren't there, but we didn't get a warning from the router that we needed to do anything else. What is the problem?

The problem is that RIP requires a seed metric to be specified when redistributing routes into that protocol. A seed metric is a "starter metric" that gives the RIP process a metric it can work with. The OSPF metric of cost is incomprehensible to RIP, since RIP's sole metric is hop count. We've got to give RIP a metric it understands when redistributing routes into that protocol, so let's go back to R1 and do so.

R1(config)#router rip

R1(config-router)#no redistribute ospf 1

R1(config-router)#redistribute ospf 1 metric 2

R5 now sees the routes. Note that the metric contained in the brackets is the seed metric.

R5#show ip route rip

34.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

R 34.3.3.3 [120/2] via 100.1.1.1, 00:00:24, Ethernet0

35.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

R 35.3.3.3 [120/2] via 100.1.1.1, 00:00:24, Ethernet0

33.0.0.0/32 is subnetted, 1 subnets

R 33.3.3.3 [120/2] via 100.1.1.1, 00:00:24, Ethernet0

If you read the previous tutorial, you may have noticed that we did not specify a seed metric for OSPF. OSPF does not require a seed metric to be set during redistribution. You also noticed that the router did tell us that there might be a problem when we left the "subnets" option out of RIP>OSPF redistribution, but the router didn't tell us anything about a seed metric when we performed OSPF>RIP redistribution. This is a detail you must know by heart in order to make your route redistribution successful!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, ?How To Pass The CCNA? and ?How To Pass The CCNP? and get a FREE CCNA and CCNP exam question sent to your inbox every day, just visit the website! Get your CCNP certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNA Certification: Defining Broadcast Domains

When you're studying to pass the CCNA exam and earn your certification, you're introduced to a great many terms that are either totally new to you or seem familiar, but you're not quite sure what they are. The term "broadcast domain" falls into the latter category for many CCNA candidates.

A broadcast domain is simply the group of end hosts that will receive a broadcast sent out by a given host. For example, if there are ten host devices connected to a switch and one of them sends a broadcast, the other nine devices will receive the broadcast. All of those devices are in the same broadcast domain.

Of course, we probably don't want every device in a network receiving every single broadcast sent out by any other device in the network! This is why we need to know what devices can create multiple, smaller broadcast domains. Doing so allows us to limit the broadcasts traveling around our network - and you might be surprised how much traffic on some networks consists of unnecessary broadcasts.

Using the OSI model, we find devices such as hubs and repeaters at Layer One. This is the Physical layer, and devices at this layer have no effect on broadcast domains.

At Layer Two, we've got switches and bridges. By default, a switch has no effect on broadcast domains; CCNA candidates know that a switch will forward a broadcast out every single port on that switch except the one upon which it was received. However, Cisco switches allow the creation of Virtual Local Area Networks, or VLANs, that are logical segments of the network. A broadcast sent by one host in a VLAN will not be forwarded out every other port on the switch. That broadcast will be forwarded only out ports that are members of the same VLAN as the host device that sent it.

The good news is that broadcast traffic will not be forwarded between VLANs. The bad news is that no inter-VLAN traffic at all is allowed by default! You may actually want this in some cases, but generally you're going to want inter-VLAN traffic. This requires the use of a router or other Layer 3 device such as a Layer 3 Switch. (Layer 3 Switches are becoming more popular every day. Basically, it's a switch that can also run routing protocols. These switches are not tested on the CCNA exam.)

That router we just talked about also defines broadcast domains. Routers do not forward broadcasts, so broadcast domains are defined by routers with no additional configuration.

Knowing how broadcasts travel across your network, and how they can be controlled, is an important part of being a CCNA and of being a superior network administrator. Best of luck to you in both of these pursuits!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, ?How To Pass The CCNA? and ?How To Pass The CCNP?, visit the website and download your free copies. You can now get a FREE CCNA and CCNP exam question sent to your email inbox every day! Get your CCNA certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNP/BSCI Certification: BGP Route Reflector Tutorial

When you're studying for your BSCI exam and CCNP certification, you quickly realize that BGP is a whole new world from anything you've previously studies. One topic that sometimes confuses CCNP candidates is when a BGP route reflector needs to be configured. Route reflectors are an excellent workaround for a basic rule of BGP route advertisement that we?ll review in just a moment.

In the following example, the routers R1, R2, and R3 are all in BGP AS 100. This is not a full mesh, however. There are peer relationships between R1-R2 and R1-R3, but not between R2 and R3. R3 is advertising network 3.3.3.0/24 via BGP, and the route is seen on R1. R1's iBGP neighbor, R2 does not see the route, nor would any other iBGP neighbors of R1. Why?

A basic rule of BGP is that a BGP speaker cannot advertise a route to an iBGP neighbor if that route was learned from another iBGP neighbor. Configuring R1 as a route reflector will allow us to circumvent this rule. The entire route reflector process is transparent to the clients, and no configuration is necessary on those clients. We'll configure R1 as a route reflector for both R2 and R3.

R1(config)#router bgp 100

R1(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.2 route-reflector-client

3d18h: %BGP-5-ADJCHANGE: neighbor 172.12.123.2 Down RR client config change

R1(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.3 route-reflector-client

3d18h: %BGP-5-ADJCHANGE: neighbor 172.12.123.3 Down RR client config change

The BGP adjacencies do come down when this configuration is added, so this isn't something you want to do during a peak traffic time.

Once the adjacencies come back up, R2 will have the route to 3.3.3.0/24.

There are other possible solutions to this iBGP limitation, such as configuring BGP confederations. Those solutions are generally used on larger BGP deployments and with other concerns in mind, though, and configuring route reflectors serves this purpose just as well.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, ?How To Pass The CCNA? and ?How To Pass The CCNP?, visit the website and download your free copies. Get your CCNA certification with The Bryant Advantage!

San Francisco

The updated edition of the free Access San Francisco guide for travelers with disabilities is now available. The 34-page book offers detailed information about 150 city venues and travel services that have accessible facilities that have been inspected by an ANC access specialist. These include hotels, restaurants, museums, attractions, shopping centers, recreation facilities, public transportation and others. Inspection notes which add extra insight have been included for clarification. For example, one note states, Path of travel from the street to the entrance is rough paving. Contact: 415-391-2000, (TDD) 415-392-0328

The Baylink Ferry Service has expanded its fleet with the addition of the M/V Solano, a high-speed 135-foot catamaran which ferries 300 passengers between Mare Island in Vallejo, San Franciscos Ferry Plaza at Market and Embarcadero, and Pier 41 at Fishermans Wharf. The trip operates daily. Contact: 877-643-3779.

The San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design has opened at 550 Sutter Street. It offers innovative exhibits and educational programs which celebrate the art and artists of contemporary craft and design. The museum features works in progress and displays showing design trends. It also hosts visiting featured exhibitions and artists. Contact: 415-773-0303, www.sfmcd.org

The Asian Art Museum invites visitors to view its copies, cracks, do-it-yourself fix-its and other imperfections among pieces in collections. The Fakes, Copies, and Question Marks: Forensic Investigations of Asian Art exhibit is part science lesson and part crime scene investigation by examining the authenticity of artworks through forensic testing to reveal the sometimes inexact science of classifying art. The exhibit artifacts are drawn primarily from the museums own collection.

Tibet: Treasures from the Roof of the World, June 12-Sept. 11, features nearly 200 sacred objects from the Potala and Norbu Lingka palaces in Tibet. This exhibition offers a rare insight into the artistic and spiritual traditions of the Dalai Lama and his followers. Contact: 415-581-3500

Del Monte Square, located near Fishermans Wharf, is the site of what was once the worlds largest fruit and vegetable cannery which was operated under the Del Monte name starting in the 1920s. The historic buildings are now home to the Argonaut Hotel, The Visitor Center of the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, THE CANNERY and a year-round Certified Organic Farmers Market. The renaming of this area honors the roots of this historic site and celebrates early San Francisco commerce and the influence of the Del Monte company. Throughout the complex are displays and landmark signs that describe various aspects of Del Monte Squares history. Events with historical themes are also planned. Contact: 415-771-3112

Amusing America is at the San Francisco Museum and Historical Societys Mus?e M?canique located at Pier 45 at Fishermans Wharf. This free exhibition tells the story of amusement parks found in American cities including San Francisco and how they influenced the lives of many, from the Gilded Age of the 1880s and 90s to World War II. Displays feature many artifacts including the familiar Laughing Sal, an oversized mechanical manikin which greeted visitors to the citys Playland-at-the-Beach. Antique games which were features of various amusement parks, arcades, swimming baths and dance pavilions are also displayed. Contact: 415-537-1105

Day at the Bay, a popular San Francisco entertainment group, has introduced an all-new cabaret program called A Musical Stroll Along Broadway. The program is filled with music, comedy and lots of nostalgia. The package includes the cabaret show plus lunch options at venues featuring a classic Chinese meal or a Greek feast. After the show, docents lead tours to interesting area sites. This is the perfect package for a day trip or mystery trip. Contact: 415-491-4908.

Vampires are not just for Halloween. Vampire Tours of San Francisco offers spooky tours of the gothic side of Nob Hill. The tour guide is Mina Hacker, the vampiress who was made by Count Dracula in 1897 and who has resided in the darker part of this city for over 100 years. She beckons visitors in a fun and entertaining way into the world of vampires and tells tales of their influence in shaping San Francisco as we know it today. Contact: 650-279-1840.

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Cisco CCNA Certification: Defining And Creating Collision Domains

When you're studying to pass the CCNA exam and earn your certification, you're introduced to a great many terms that are either totally new to you or seem familiar, but you're not quite sure what they are. The term "collision domain" falls into the latter category for many CCNA candidates.

What exactly is "colliding" in the first place, and why do we care? It's the data that is being sent out onto an Ethernet segment that we're concerned with here. Ethernet uses Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) to avoid collisions in the first place. CSMA/CD is a set of rules dictating when hosts on an Ethernet segment can and cannot transmit data. Basically, a host that wants to transmit data will "listen" to the ethernet segment to see if another host is currently transmitting. If no one else is transmitting, the host will go forward with its own transmission.

This is an effective way of avoiding a collision, but it is not foolproof. If two hosts follow this procedure at the exact same time, their transmissions will collide on the Ethernet segment and both transmissions will become unusable. The hosts that sent those two transmissions will then send a jam signal out onto the segment, indicating to all other hosts that they should not send data. The two hosts will each start a random timer, and at the end of that time each host will begin the listening process again.

Now that we know what a collision is, and what CSMA/CD is, we need to be able to define a collision domain. A collision domain is any area where a collision can theoretically take place, so only one device can transmit at a time in a collision domain.

In another free CCNA certification tutorial, we saw that broadcast domains were defined by routers (default) and switches if VLANs have been defined. Hubs and repeaters did nothing to define broadcast domains. Well, they don't do anything here, either. Hubs and repeaters do not define collision domains.

Switches do, however. A Cisco switchport is actually its own unshared collision domain! Therefore, if we have 20 host devices connected to separate switchports, we have 20 collision domains. All 20 devices can transmit simultaneously with no danger of collisions. Compare this to hubs and repeaters - if you have five devices connected to a single hub, you still have one large collision domain, and only one device at a time can transmit.

Mastering the definition and creation of collision domains and broadcast domains is an important step toward earning your CCNA and becoming an effective network administrator. Best of luck to you in both these worthwhile pursuits!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage , home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials! Pass the CCNA exam with Chris Bryant!

Cisco CCNP / BSCI Certification: Troubleshooting Route Redistribution, Part I

If there's one CCNP / BSCI topic that looks so easy but can lead to a real headache, it's route redistribution. I'm not even talking about the routing loops and suboptimal routing that can result when route redistribution is done without proper planning - I'm talking about the basic commands themselves. Leaving out one single command option, or forgetting what else needs to be redistributed when redistributing dynamically discovered routes, can leave you with a routing table that looks complete but does not result in full IP connectivity.

In this free CCNP / BSCI tutorial series, we'll take a look at three common errors in route redistribution configurations, and how to fix them. We'll use three routers, R1, R3, and R5. R1 and R5 are in a RIPv2 domain and R1 and R3 are in an OSPF domain. R1 will be performing two-way route redistribution.

R5 is advertising its loopback, 5.5.5.5/24, into the RIPv2 domain. R1 sees this route in its RIP routing table:

R1#show ip route rip

5.0.0.0/24 is subnetted, 1 subnets

R 5.5.5.0 [120/1] via 100.1.1.5, 00:00:01, Ethernet0

For R3 to see this route, route redistribution must be configured on R1. We'll use the redistribute rip command to do so.

R1(config)#router ospf 1

R1(config-router)#redistribute rip

% Only classful networks will be redistributed

The router immediately gives us a message that "only classful networks will be redistributed". What does this mean? Let's go to R3 and see if that router is receiving this route.

R3#show ip route ospf

< no output >

When we get no result from a show command, that means there's nothing to show. The only routes that will be successfully redistributed with the current configuration on R1 are classful networks, and 5.5.5.0/24 is a subnet.

To further illustrate the point, a classful network has been added to R5. This network is 16.0.0.0 /8, and is now being advertised by RIP. R1 sees this network as classful...

R1#show ip route rip

R 16.0.0.0/8 [120/1] via 100.1.1.5, 00:00:00, Ethernet0

5.0.0.0/24 is subnetted, 1 subnets

R 5.5.5.0 [120/1] via 100.1.1.5, 00:00:00, Ethernet0

... and R3 is receiving the route through redistribution.

R3#show ip route ospf

O E2 16.0.0.0/8 [110/20] via 172.12.123.1, 00:00:08, Serial0.31

To redistribute both classful and classless networks, the option "subnets" must be added to the redistribute command on R1.

R1(config)#router ospf 1

R1(config-router)#no redistribute rip

R1(config-router)#redistribute rip subnets

R3 will now see both the classful and classless networks being redistributed into OSPF. (100.1.1.0 is the network connecting R1 and R5.)

R3#show ip route ospf

O E2 16.0.0.0/8 [110/20] via 172.12.123.1, 00:00:20, Serial0.31

100.0.0.0/24 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O E2 100.1.1.0 [110/20] via 172.12.123.1, 00:00:20, Serial0.31

5.0.0.0/24 is subnetted, 1 subnets

O E2 5.5.5.0 [110/20] via 172.12.123.1, 00:00:20, Serial0.31

This is one of the most common errors made during route redistribution, but now you know what to look out for! In the next part of this free CCNP / BSCI tutorial, we'll take a look at another such error.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, ?How To Pass The CCNA? and ?How To Pass The CCNP?, visit the website and download your free copies.

Cisco CCNA Certification: The Path To Take After Earning The CCNA

Once you earn your CCNA certification, you've got quite a few exciting choices ahead of you! The majority of CCNAs go on to pursue another Cisco certification, and this is a wise decision. The more you know, the more valuable you are in today's IT market.

A question I'm often asked by new CCNAs is "Which certification should I go after next?" Often, these new CCNAs have their eye on the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) certification. While adding a security certification to your resume is an excellent idea, I strongly recommend that new CCNAs acquire their Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification before pursuing their security certifications. The CCNP requires you to pass three or four exams (depending on the path you choose) that will demand a further mastery of some subjects you studies to earn your CCNA as well as several important topics that you haven?t seen yet.

The CCNP builds on the foundation of networking knowledge you built when you earned your CCNA, and your CCNP study will add greatly to your skills and resume. There are some common technologies that you'll see in many networks - BGP and route redistribution among them - that you don't learn about in your CCNA studies. By pursuing your CCNP, you'll also learn much more about OSPF, switching, and refine your troubleshooting skills. These are skills that will pay off in your current job as well as any future job hunting you do.

I know that security is the hot topic of the day, and with good reason. But to be a well-rounded networking engineer, you need to understand BGP, route redistribution, complex route summarization scenarios, and many other topics that earning the CCNP will help you understand. And besides, the security certifications will definitely be there when you're done earning your CCNP!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, ?How To Pass The CCNA? and ?How To Pass The CCNP?, visit the website and download your free copies. You can now get a FREE CCNA and CCNP exam question sent to your email inbox every day! Get your CCNA certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab Tutorial: Starting Over

When you're preparing for success on your CCNA or CCNP certification exams, sooner or later you're going to want to start totally from scratch on your Cisco routers and switches. It's easy enough to type "write erase" and "reload", but there are a few details you have to watch if you want your home lab or rack rental devices to act as though they just came out of the box.

The first step is indeed to run the command write erase, and then reload the router. You're going to be prompted with a question before the reload starts, though, and you have to give the right answer .... or your configuration will still be there when you reload!

First, you will be prompted to confirm the erase. Press to accept the default answer of "confirm".

R1#write erase

Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all configuration files! Continue? [confirm]

[OK]

Erase of nvram: complete

With the startup configuration erased, it's time to reload the router. This is where the second prompt comes in:

R1#reload

System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: no

When a Cisco router prompts you with two answers to a question, you've got to type the answer in (or at least the first letter of it). Answer NO to this question and press when prompted to confirm the reload.

The router will then start the reload process. Since there is no startup configuration in NVRAM, the router will prompt you to enter setup mode. You should only answer yes if you have a lot of time on your hands, just want to see what setup mode is like, or practice CTRL-C to get out it! Otherwise, answer NO.

--- System Configuration Dialog ---

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n

Would you like to terminate autoinstall? [yes]:y

You'll see quite a few messages after this relating to interface states, and finally you're back at the user exec prompt.

Router>

Now you're working with a router that's just like it was when it came out of the box!

For switches such as the 2950, the process is much the same, but you should delete the VLAN.DAT file before reloading the router. This file contains VLAN information and is kept in flash, so it will still be present after a reload.

switch1#write erase

Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all files! Continue? [confirm]

[OK]

Erase of nvram: complete

switch1#delete vlan.dat

Delete filename [vlan.dat]?

Delete flash:vlan.dat? [confirm]

switch1#reload

Make sure to hit for the two questions regarding the deletion - if you answer "y" instead, the switch thinks you're trying to erase a file named "y"!

After the reload is complete, you'll be prompted to enter setup mode. As you did with the router, enter "N" and begin to configure the router from user exec mode. There's nothing like working with real equipment to prepare for your CCNA and CCNP success, and there's no better practice than configuring routers and switches from the very beginning!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, ?How To Pass The CCNA? and ?How To Pass The CCNP?, visit the website and download your free copies. You can now get a FREE CCNA and CCNP exam question sent to your email inbox every day! Get your CCNA certification with The Bryant Advantage!

chris@thebryantadvantage.com

Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab Tutorial: Starting Over

When you're preparing for success on your CCNA or CCNP certification exams, sooner or later you're going to want to start totally from scratch on your Cisco routers and switches. It's easy enough to type "write erase" and "reload", but there are a few details you have to watch if you want your home lab or rack rental devices to act as though they just came out of the box.

The first step is indeed to run the command write erase, and then reload the router. You're going to be prompted with a question before the reload starts, though, and you have to give the right answer .... or your configuration will still be there when you reload!

First, you will be prompted to confirm the erase. Press to accept the default answer of "confirm".

R1#write erase

Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all configuration files! Continue? [confirm]

[OK]

Erase of nvram: complete

With the startup configuration erased, it's time to reload the router. This is where the second prompt comes in:

R1#reload

System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: no

When a Cisco router prompts you with two answers to a question, you've got to type the answer in (or at least the first letter of it). Answer NO to this question and press when prompted to confirm the reload.

The router will then start the reload process. Since there is no startup configuration in NVRAM, the router will prompt you to enter setup mode. You should only answer yes if you have a lot of time on your hands, just want to see what setup mode is like, or practice CTRL-C to get out it! Otherwise, answer NO.

--- System Configuration Dialog ---

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n

Would you like to terminate autoinstall? [yes]:y

You'll see quite a few messages after this relating to interface states, and finally you're back at the user exec prompt.

Router>

Now you're working with a router that's just like it was when it came out of the box!

For switches such as the 2950, the process is much the same, but you should delete the VLAN.DAT file before reloading the router. This file contains VLAN information and is kept in flash, so it will still be present after a reload.

switch1#write erase

Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all files! Continue? [confirm]

[OK]

Erase of nvram: complete

switch1#delete vlan.dat

Delete filename [vlan.dat]?

Delete flash:vlan.dat? [confirm]

switch1#reload

Make sure to hit for the two questions regarding the deletion - if you answer "y" instead, the switch thinks you're trying to erase a file named "y"!

After the reload is complete, you'll be prompted to enter setup mode. As you did with the router, enter "N" and begin to configure the router from user exec mode. There's nothing like working with real equipment to prepare for your CCNA and CCNP success, and there's no better practice than configuring routers and switches from the very beginning!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials! For my FREE "How To Pass The CCNA" or "CCNP" ebook, visit the website and download your copies. Earn your CCNA certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco CCNA / CCNP Certification: Deciphering Ping Results

As you study for your CCNA and CCNP exams, particularly if you're getting hands-on practice in your home lab or rack rental service, you're going to be sending a lot of pings. As a CCNA or CCNP candidate, you know that five exclamation points (!!!!!) as a ping return indicates that you have IP connectivity to the remote destination. Five periods (.....) indicates that you do not have that connectivity.

It's not enough to know that you don't have IP connectivity to the remote device, you've got to know why. Ping is a great first step to network troubleshooting, but the results are quite limited. As a CCNA and CCNP, you've got to know how to diagnose the problem and resolve it. Just looking at the routing table is not enough - a high-powered Cisco debug, debug ip packet, can often show you exactly where the problem is.

WARNING: debug ip packet should not be run on any production router without understanding the effect of this command on your router. This command results in a lot of output and can actually lock up a router.

In this case, we'll run the command on a home lab router that cannot ping 22.2.2.2. The debug will be turned on and another ping sent.

R1#debug ip packet

IP packet debugging is on

R1#ping 22.2.2.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 22.2.2.2, timeout is 2 seconds:

3d23h: IP: s=1.1.1.1 (local), d=22.2.2.2, len 100, unroutable.

R1#undebug all

All possible debugging has been turned off

I've edited this output for clarity; the important word is "unroutable". This indicates that the packet is not leaving the router because there is no match in the routing table for this destination. We'll configure a static default route and send the ping again.

R1#ping 22.2.2.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 22.2.2.2, timeout is 2 seconds:

U.U.U

Success rate is 0 percent (0/5)

That output may surprise those of you who are used to getting five of the same symbol back whenever you send a ping. We got three "U"s back along with two periods. We'll now run debug ip packet and send the ping again.

R1#debug ip packet

IP packet debugging is on

R1#ping 22.2.2.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 22.2.2.2, timeout is 2 seconds:

3d23h: IP: s=172.12.123.1 (local), d=22.2.2.2 (Serial0), len 100, sending

R1#traceroute 22.2.2.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Tracing the route to 22.2.2.2

1 172.12.123.2 36 msec 36 msec 36 msec

2 172.12.123.2 !H * !H

R1#undebug all

All possible debugging has been turned off

Again, I've edited this output. The key word in this output is "sending", meaning that the packets are leaving the router. The ping return of "U.U.U" is a general indication that the packets are indeed being transmitted, but that a downstream router is having a problem routing the packets. Running traceroute reveals some more interesting return characters! In this case, the downstream router did not have a match for the destination in its routing table.

It's easy to concentrate on the local router when you're not getting positive ping returns. When troubleshooting this kind of issue, keep in mind the problem could be on an intermediate router and not on the local router. Use debug ip packet to make sure the packets are leaving the local router, and traceroute to determine what downstream router may have the problem. And get used to the fact that pings and traceroutes can give you some unusual-looking returns!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials! For my FREE "How To Pass The CCNA" or "CCNP" ebook, visit the website and download your copies. Earn your CCNA certification with The Bryant Advantage!

Mend Your Broken Heart For Valentines's Day. Three Great Healthy Heart Exercises You Can Do In San Francisco

February is the perfect month to consider mending your broken heart and San Francisco is the just the right city to do it. No, I am not talking about your love life. I am talking about strengthening the most important muscle in your body; your heart.

Valentine's month is a period in between the holidays and summer. There are not as many distractions which make it a great month to begin an exercise program. The San Francisco setting for this is ideal with the cool clear days February provides and no fog!

More importantly there is no better city to train than San Francisco because of our unique topography. Where most cities have to rely solely on long, boring and flat cardio workouts we have a ton of options for quick, high intensity cardio workouts.

Three great options for fast cardio training that The City offers are: beach sprints, hill sprints and stair climbing.

1. Beach Sprints: Sprinting at the beach is great for developing strength in your legs as well as your heart. It takes more effort than sprinting on a solid surface and you can't beat the scenery (unless all you can see is fog but that's pretty cool too.) A great cardio workout at the beach would be to sprint for twenty seconds then walk for ten and repeat eight times for a total of four minutes. This has been proven to be just as effective as running at a steady state for longer periods.

2. Hill Sprints: When I was young and had to walk everywhere I would curse the hills of San Francisco. Driving my old cars with stick shifts was never much fun either. Now it's all about automatics and using the hills to exercise. Much like beach sprints; hill sprints are great for strengthening the legs and glutes, as well as your heart. The best thing about hill sprints is you most likely have a hill right outside your door (if you don't you probably live close to the beach.) Try the "around the block run." Jog easy downhill and around the turns and sprint uphill. Depending on the length and slope of the hill start out doing this once or twice and try to build up to five or six times or more.

3. Stair Climbing: One of the aspects of San Francisco I have always loved, even as a kid, is the amount of stairs we have. Long staircases slice through neighborhoods providing easy routes to our favorite coffee shops and create the feeling, for me, of being in an old world time and place. What I really love about them is the leg, glute and cardio workout they can provide. Try running up a long staircase, walking up two stairs at a time or carrying a pair of dumbbells on your climb. If you want to climb it more than once be careful coming back down as you will be tired.

Of course do a proper warm up before exercising and always consult a physician before starting a new exercise program. Happy Valentines Day!

Jim Phillips is a physical educator and owner of http://www.home-exercise-secrets.com

Cisco CCNP Certification FAQ

To earn your CCNP, you've got to pass some very rigorous Cisco exams, and you also need to know the rules regarding this important certification. In this article, I'll answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the CCNP.

Q: What exams do I need to pass to get my CCNP?

A: You have two options, a three-exam path and a four-exam path. Currently, the four-exam path consists of rigorous exams on advanced routing techniques (BSCI), advanced switching (BCMSN), remote access methods (BCRAN), and advanced troubleshooting techniques (CIT). The three-exam path combines the BCMSN and BSCI exams into a single exam, the Composite exam.

Q: Do I have to take them in any order?

A: No, the order is up to the candidate. Most CCNP candidates take the BSCI exam first and the CIT exam last, but again this is up to the candidate.

Q: What else do I have to do to get the CCNP?

A: You must earn your CCNA before you can be CCNP certified (as well as passing the exams, of course).

Q: Is there a recertification requirement?

A: Cisco CCNP certifications are valid for three years. During that time, you must either pass the Composite exam, the BSCI and BCMSN exams, or pass any CCIE written exam.

Q: What if I don't recertify within the three-year period?

A: You must then meet whatever CCNP requirements there are at that time, from the beginning. It's easier to make sure you recertify!

Becoming CCNP certified is a great boost to your career and your confidence, and as with any Cisco certification, it's up to you to stay current with the CCNA and CCNP requirements. Visit the Career Certification section of Cisco's website regularly to learn about the program's requirements and changes.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials! For my FREE "How To Pass The CCNA" or "CCNP" ebook, visit the website and download your copies. Earn your CCNP certification with The Bryant Advantage!