Managing IP Networks with Cisco Routers is a practical guide to setting up and maintaining a production network. It discusses how to select routing protocols and how to configure protocols to handle most common situations. It also discusses less esoteric but equally important issues like how to evaluate network equipment and vendors and how to set up a help desk. Although the book focuses on Cisco routers, and gives examples using Cisco's IOS, the principles discussed are common to all IP networks, regardless of the vendor you choose.

Topics covered include:

• Designing an IP network
  
• Evaluating equipment and vendors
  
• Selecting routing protocols
  
• Configuring common interior protocols (RIP, OSPF, EIGRP)
  
• Connecting to external networks and configuring exterior protocols (BGP)
  
• Ongoing network management: troubleshooting and maintenance
  
• Security and privacy issues