Thoughts

So yesterday, I started with all the lab exercises that has to do with EIGRP. I did the one in the self-study guide, and one (2.7.1) in the lab portfolio. I also started on 2.7.2.

So far, the labs in the labportfolio are far better written than the ones in the self-study guide. Today, I have snuck in a few practice scenarios regarding default route propagation.

3 ways to do it:

Number 1:
“ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 <next-hop>” on advertising router.
“ip default-network <classful network to the default route>” on advertising router.

Number 2:
“ip  route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 <next-hop>” on advertising router.
“redistribute static” on advertising router.

Number 3:
“ip route 0.0.0.0 <next-hop>” on advertising router.
“ip summary-address eigrp <AS> 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0″ on advertising router.

This is just plain stupid in my opinion.

On another note, yesterday Ciscokits confirmed my order. I will be receiving:

1x 2611XM (100mbps router)
1x 2509 Access server
4x Back to Back cables (DB60)
2x Wic-1T cards
1x nm 4A/S card (Used for Frame Relay switch).
Memory upgrade for my current 3640 and 2611 (for 3640 to run 12.4).
Octal cable (to connect to all the equipment.

That means I will have:

1x 3640 with nm 4A/S
1x 2611 with 1 WIC-1T
1x 2611XM with 1 WIC-1T
1x 2509 Access server
2x 2950 switches
1x 2924 switch
+ a few other routers (which Mølgaard Netcom, was kind enough to lend me), I need to figure out.

Anyways, back to see if I can get some work done.

Alright, I am done with reading about EIGRP. I am now skimming through the chapter, and taking notes. I have an okay understanding of how EIGRP works, and I am looking forward to the labs to nail out unknowns.

I am not 100% convinced about taking notes, or rather doing it in the order im doing (reading first, then skimming and taking notes, then going to the lab).

However, when Im done with note-taking i can cross out the “Explain the functions and operations of EIGRP” in the exam blueprint

Anyways, goal for today is to get note taking down, and maybe even skim over some labs.

Today, I am continuing reading about EIGRP.

My goal for today is to get at least 40 pages of EIGRP reading done. Lots of nitty gritty details such as unequal-load balancing and route authentication.

To understand and process the material, 10 pages takes up 30 minutes of reading time. This includes reading the material, looking at the topologies being presented and thinking it through (in case of metrics and bandwidth calculate a bit to see where the authors are getting at).

I will update this post later in the day to track my progress.

update:

Okay, so I managed to read close to 40 pages of EIGRP today. Lots of information. Among these are:

• Authentication
• EIGRP on WAN links (use of bandwidth + percentage of bandwidth usage on link)
• Dual workings (Diffuse Update ALgorithm)
• Manual route summarization
• Beginning of EIGRP stub and EIGRP hub
• SIA (Stuck-In-Active) (EIGRP never getting a reply to a query packet)
• Graceful shutdown

All in all, a very good day in the BSCI study program.

Chapter 3, EIGRP.

Started reading about the inner workings of EIGRP today. EIGRP is an improved distance vector protocol provided by Cisco themselves. It is an improved distance vector protocol, because it passes updates directly to its neighbours. It is more advanced than traditional distance vector protocols, because it supports VLSM and it does not use periodic updates. It uses hello packets like link-state protocols.

1st reading done includes:

• EIGRP packet types.
• DUAL selection + selection examples.
• Neighbour establishments.
• Successor(s) + feasible Successor(s).
• Advertised distance + feasible distance.
• Metric calculations.