Cisco Field Manual: Catalyst Switch Configuration

This manual has easy to follow steps and explanations for programming of Catalyst switches. It covers commands for both CatOS and IOS.

I am a network engineer and use the Catalyst 2900, 2950, 3500 and the 4000's on a daily basis. We do a lot of VLAN configurations, trunking using 801.q, static port access, along with other various switch configs. This book has been indispensable for my daily routines. There has not once been an instant where I couldn't find the answer to what I was trying to accomplish when configuring a Cisco Catalyst Switch. This also gives you the commands for COS and IOS and also tells you which switch supports what and which switch doesn't (example: the Catalyst 2950 supports 801.q by default, where others support ISL by default). I highly recommend this book for all your switching administrative needs.

The author has put together a very clear and concise book which is essential for engineers. Whether using it as a reference or to read it cover to cover it is well worth the purchase. A+

This book covers 2900 Series up to 6000 Series Catalyst Switches including Catlayst 3500XL and 2900MXL Series. This book is not for CCNA wannabe's, cause it doesn't include Catalyst 1900 Series. Besides, you should know Cisco Switching before attempting to read this book. This book is more help on your day to day Cisco Catalyst administration job.This book beats Cisco LAN Switching (CCIE Professional Development). It covers those topics that Cisco LAN Switching lacks - from Switch Functionality, SE Configuration, creating VLANs & Trunking, STP, Multilayer Switching, to QOS. More examples than LAN Switching.This book, together with the Cisco Routers for IP Routing Little Black Book (by: Innokenty Rudenko) and Remote Access for Cisco Networks (by: William Burton and Bill Burton), your daily administration of Cisco devices will be easy as you have never imagined. Of course you need at least a CCNA Advanced Level or a CCNP level to use these three books.I'm a CCNP/CCDA supporting Internet Data Centre / Internet Service Provider Core Routers/Distribution Switches/Access Switches and I found that this book is valuable to my daily administration tasks. I highly recommend this book for Cisco Catalyst administrators.

In becoming a CCNA and CCDA I had to study switches and switching techniques, both of which are covered very well in most study guides. What seems to be missing is coverage, extensive coverage, of switch configuration and management, that's why this book is so important. The authors take a specific subject, the Catalyst Switch, and break it down to the lowest level. They give extremely detailed information about the switches, from the 2950 series to the 600 series, from configuration for both layer 2 and 3, to VLANs, VTP, STP, multicasting and access control. Leaving virtually no stone unturned the authors have taken area of Cisco certification and made it the focus of study. What I found most impressive was the real world examples, coupled with coding screen shots, so you can see what things look like rather than have to guess. Overall this book can work for the CCNA, CCDA and CCNP Switching exams. Cisco Press needs to add this to the Preparation and Certification libraries for the exams as well.