Networking Client Operating Systems

In May 2010 Windows 7 is being sold in the stores and most people have Vista on their laptops.  Windows XP is rare except in lab environments especially among new users who want to learn networking.

Cisco seems slow to update their curriculum to include file and print sharing examples using Vista.  Network+ curriculum and books use only Vista now.

I’ve learned not to use multiple books in computer networking class and stick with the approved curriculum even if it is out of date.  Perhaps, Cisco can be excused by saying that the file and print sharing examples are only to give examples and not necessarily teach Microsoft networking which would require the latest operating system.  Maybe just say nothing at all and encourage students to come to the lab where XP is installed instead of trying to create a home lab.

Ethernet II or 802.3

Specifically CDP/DTP

Here is the CDP packet screen capture https://sat450.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/cdp.png  http://wiki.wireshark.org/CDP is where I got the packet capture file.

Framing types are listed here http://osr507doc.sco.com/en/NetConfigG/configparamsC.framing_type.html and it says, “Ethernet SNAP framing allows network protocol stacks to use Ethernet II frames on IEEE style networks without modification” then that Token ring is the most common implentation of this style.  Sounds like SNAP allows other network architectures to run Ethernet.  A good frame tutorial is here http://www.2000trainers.com/cisco-ccna-02/ccna-ethernet-frame-types/

Subnetting

Lamlee’s post on Cisco https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/message/66124#66124 and another recommendation http://www.subnettingquestions.com/  see also Cisco on Subnet Zero

Subnet Practice with Class A addresses http://faculty.valleycollege.net/rpowell/jscript/subnet2.htm

Area 51 game was sub-netting a class b address and this practice link subnets class a addresses.  Seems to me that Area 51 was taking it easy by using only the last octet.  I realize that now that I’ve been working with the calculator from rpowell.

Packet Tracer Trivia Game from Cisco

http://www.packettracertrivia.com/

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/course_catalog/CCNAdiscovery.html

Sample chapters.

Gateway Devices – Home or SOHO routers, Linksys

New Title:  Gateway Devices the Missing Link

Gateway devices are the step the ISP provides new subscribers.  This one device connects the household to the internet.  Most gateway devices provide a wireless module for wireless and a switching module for cable base ethernet.  The router most commonly available in the store.  You would want to buy it to enhance the old modem so that you can add switch ports or wireless access.  Most gateway routers that are new have these features built in.

Many devices at your local computer store require a gateway device to function. A caveat most student miss.

• The WRT110 a classroom router requires a gateway device.
• Careful reading of this statement, “Only the WTR54GS (Wireless-G Travel Router with SpeedBooster) can be connected wirelessly to another router.”
  Shows that the WTR54GS requires a gateway device too

The phrasing is “Linsys cable gateway”, or “Linksys ADSL gateway”.  This is important because the router has two meanings — one that it can can connect to the Internet (gateway device) the other is a media translate (wirless to 100/1000BASET)  Bridges require the same media on both sides, routers can translate between different network architectures.

• You may use a WCG200 because it is a cable gateway. Modem and router in one.
• We also have a WAG54G ADSL device because it is a ADSL gateway.  Modem and router in one.

Attitude/Populist

ISDN being replaced more and more with security in Cisco tests. ISDN has always been a hard sell to new Cisco trainees, but the test is the test.

Having attitude is very popular, however. I find it gets in the way moving converstations from skepticism to cynicism and there is little place for this when learning. Perhaps a little evaluation is good.

IPv6 ain’t happenin’

IPv6 from Cisco Internetworking Handbook

Check this out 2011 update no more IP4 addresses.

Comprehensive Study Shows IPv6 Shift Isn’t Happening

Extreme Tech (08/18/08) Hachman, Mark

Despite predictions that the Internet’s IPv4 protocol will run out of addresses sometime in 2011, little seems to have been done to transition to IPv6, the new protocol that will provide enough Internet addresses for the near future, according to an Arbor Networks study. The study found that the there were only about 600 Mbps of inter-domain IPv6 traffic between June 2007 and June of this year, or just 0.0026 percent of the amount of overall IPv4 traffic. The study also found that IPv6 traffic peaked twice between Nov. 4 and Dec. 25 of last year. Arbor’s Scott Iekel-Johnson says the largest of these spikes happened when 1,168 people in attendance at a meeting of the Internet Engineering Task Force were asked to turn off IPv4 functionality on their network connections and routers and test to see which sites could be accessed. Iekel-Johnson says the fact that just under 1,200 people caused the largest spike in IPv6 traffic over the last 12 months “speaks volumes” about the lack of adoption of the new protocol. He called for action to spur the adoption of IPv6, such as a company issuing a mandate to adopt the protocol. “If Comcast says to its customers, okay, you need to go over to IPv6 because we’re out of addresses and we want to add customers, that will force the issue,” Iekel-Johnson says.
Click here to view the full article

The above was from 8/22/2008.
In 11/17/2009 here is an account of a DNS upgrade http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jsandys/archive/2008/10/06/dns-on-server-core.aspx in which the writer recounts  diabling ipv6 to reduce security foot print of the DNS server.

TCP/IP Model

A session 2 concept

This wikipedia link on TCP/IP Model shows how different authors and the Cisco Academy refer to layer 3.  The academy as transport layer and Stallings as “host to host”.  Interestingly,  the Lammle books (2008) use the term “host to host” for the layer.  Students will just want the name and will be uneasy with the idea of different names.  All they care about is what is on the test.

will this appear on the welcome page

or in the post list already running

Course Expectations

Where does the class fit in?

Fun. Interesting with anecdotes to build interest.  Practical Hands on with club.  A personal class in which I add my own story and experience to the content.

What does the grade mean?

A’s – Ready for canonical study of Cisco or Network+; exhibits desire, motivation and the academic approach to succeed in the Cisco Academy (Vocational curriculum in the High Schools considered college master level in other countries).  High School curriculum but for students taking physics, calculus and AP Biology.

B’s – Gentle persons introduction basically has the overview, but will move on to other studies.  Exhibits college readiness, but doesn’t have time/interest and motivation to master networking.

C’s – Attended and worked through labs and stood for testing.

D’s – Poor attendance, incomplete assignments.  Has to decide importance of the material and retake the class with the necessary support structure and life stress controlled enough to complete the class at a higher level of grade.

F – Student failed to drop the class in admissions or online.  Attended class enough to show interest, but dissappeared and is on the grade sheet.  Often these students are looking for an incomplete, but haven’t meet the requirements for a C.

What is Network+, A+ and Cisco (and Cisco Academy)

A+ – Certifies 6 months work experience as a computer tech.  Many students want to fix computers not study academic content.  Comptia

Network+ – Certifies 1 yr experience as a support specialist again has very high academic content.  Considered a pre-requisite for Cisco certification

Cisco Academy beginning transferablility to Cal State under a NSF grant.  Cal State Channel Islands has accepted this in their program at the 4 year level.  Cisco Academy establishes transferability to 4 year without becoming certified (which is not easy and not required for transferable classes in business).

C’s –

I use book tests from a Cisco Academy book.  I allow retakes on the quizzes, but not the midterm or final.  Midterm and Final are taken from the quizzes.  This doesn’t happen in a Cisco class.  I am an easy grader, but I do no favors by giving A’s to students who don’t learn the Cisco way.  Networking is a prep class toward Cisco Entry Level Networking Technicians (CCENT).