Cisco Self-Training

[rmmagow]

I need to come QUICKLY up to speed to support my Cisco router roll-out. We are replaceing a bunch of Nortel ARN units because we need more bandwidth than I can get out of them. The Cisco models we are using are the 3745 with IMA.
IOS 12.2. One book I've got, Cisco Router Configuration by cisco press seems OK but it's a bit old. Are there any highly recommended books that I could get thet would make this leaning curve a little flatter. I'm well versed in IP, OSPF, BGP etc but need to rather quickly transfer my knowledge to the Cisco environment. THANKS MUCH

 

[l1carter]

I would recommend continuing posting to this form when you run into problems. The individuals here are very intelligent and can most always point you in the right direction if not solve your problems for you!

Cisco's web site has valuable information with/without a cco account. What are you looking for? (ATM, Cisco general, ect)

 

[rmmagow]

Well, let's see. I've always been this company's main network engineer, built the network using Wellfleet nee Bay, nee Nortel routers starting in about 1990. Now we need to go to Cisco because Nortel didn't have the foresight to provide some level of IMA capability in their boxes. I am replacing about 85 Nortel ARN routers with Cisco 3745's. I've gotten 20 out there already. I had the initial configs done by a consultant and have been able to clone them since our sites look a lot like each other. Now I want to become proficient in Cisco configuration, trouble-shooting, etc etc. I'm staying with Nortel for layer 3 switching at the various core networks and really just need to become a Cisco Router expert for the 3745 and 7204/6 machines that I'll be using. I do plan to go to formal training and go after at least a CCNA. What I need now I guess is a Cisco for Dummies type manual that'll give me the most critical and frequently used commands to analyze any problems I encounter. I'm running OSPF so this is an area I need to be able to intrepret Cisco messages to help with OSPF failures. Need to know how to debug circuit problems and ISDN issues too. I'm not panicked as the network is going together very nicely but IMA problems can be very elusive to track down.