In the wake of increased traffic, today's service providers and enterprises must assure high availability across a variety of networked services and applications. Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is the enabling technology for the widespread deployment of IP networks in core and Metro Ethernet applications. Many service providers need to move their legacy Layer 2 and Layer 3 services onto converged MPLS and IP-enabled networks, but high availability is a prerequisite for offering profitable carrier-class services. Although most carrier-class routers do provide an adequate level of hardware redundancy, control-plane software is still vulnerable to and, in many cases, the cause of router failures.

Fault-Tolerant IP and MPLS Networks provides you with an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms that improve the reliability and availability of IP and MPLS control plane components. The IP/MPLS control-plane architecture and all its restart mechanisms are explained with examples and deployment considerations.

This explanation of IP/MPLS control-plane architecture begins with a service view of the network, moves on to the node-level view by partitioning the network into its constituent network elements, and then advances to the component-level view to explore various techniques that can be used to improve the reliability and availability of each component. The top-down and example-oriented approach facilitates a solid understanding of the constituent components before moving on to more advanced MPLS applications involving multiple components.

Fault-Tolerant IP and MPLS Networks is your practical guide for understanding, designing, and deploying carrier class IP/MPLS networks.

The Business Case for Storage Networks is part of the Network Business Series from Cisco Press. Titles in this series help both IT and business professionals justify their network investments. This book looks into the business implications of storage networks. It is written for anyone involved in network buying decisions, from the hands-on administrators to CFOs and CEOs who may have no applicable technical expertise. The book explains what storage area networks (SANs) are and what they can do for an organization's network, and helps readers determine the true business implications for their specific situation.

The book is separated into two parts. Part I, "The Storage Networking Value Proposition," covers the problem of direct-attached storage and the solutions offered by storage area networks. Part I also goes into the impact of recent healthcare and financial legislation (HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley) on storage consumption and data retention. Part I continues by detailing two examples of how to value the implementation of SAN and NAS solutions using return-on-investment (ROI) and economic-value-added (EVA) ratios. Finally, Part I discusses the procedures for measuring and tracking the total cost of ownership, both before and after the implementation of a storage area network solution. Using real-world case studies, Part II details the experiences of IT decision makers and implementers who have initiated storage area network solutions.

The Business Case for E-Learning is the first book that demonstrates the productivity gains provided by Internet learning through a unique approach combining e-communication, e-training, and e-assessment. Beyond theory, The Business Case for E-Learning is based on practical experience in developing and deploying programs that bolster profitability. This book offers you practical recommendations for best practices and return on investment and provides lessons learned from real-world experiences.

The Business Case for E-Learning presents several case studies that range from the challenges of learning in Africa to the emergence of corporate knowledge-sharing communities. Case studies on Toyota, BearingPoint, Element K, and other e-learning leaders demonstrate how e-learning best practices can yield value for any organization. One case study quantifies how Cisco Systems in one year generated $16 in value for every dollar spent on an e-learning program.

Managers need to prove to companies that an e-learning program can result in demonstrable productivity gains. Through The Business Case for E-Learning, you learn to avoid unnecessary trial and error with e-learning and take advantage of the e-learning experience documented by authors Tom Kelly and Nader Nanjiani.

Welcome to the world of TCP/IP!

TCP/IP is the world’s de facto communications protocol. It is the official protocol of the Internet and, consequently, has become the predominant communications protocol suite in many private networks and internetworks.

No TCP/IP experience needed!

TCP/IP First-Step explores TCP/IP concepts in a reader-friendly manner that assumes no previous experience. Learn about packetized data transfer, open networking, reference models, and standards bodies. Understand the architecture of the TCP/IP protocol suite and learn about its components, functions, and respective uses. TCP/IP First-Step helps you understand TCP/IP’s role in the network.

Becoming a CCSP distinguishes you as part of an exclusive group of experts, ready to take on today's most challenging security tasks. Administration of the Cisco PIX Firewall is a difficult and complex task, critical for protecting a network. Whether you are seeking a PIX-focused certification or the full-fledged CCSP certification, learning what you need to know to pass the Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Advanced (CSPFA) exam will qualify you to keep your company's network safe while meeting business needs.

Each chapter of the CCSP Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Advanced Exam Certification Guide, Second Edition, tests your knowledge of the exam subjects through features such as quizzes, sections that detail exam topics to master, and summary sections that highlight essential subjects for quick reference and review. Because experienced IT professionals agree that the most demanding portion of their jobs is troubleshooting, the final section of this book includes scenarios dedicated to troubleshooting Cisco PIX Firewall configuration. This includes a description of the problem, a portion of the system configuration, debug output, and suggestions to help you resolve the issue. The companion CD-ROM's customizable testing engine enables you to take practice exams that mimic the real testing environment, focus on particular topic areas, randomize answers for reusability, track your progress, and refer to the electronic text for review.