This practical guide to setting up and maintaining a production network covers how to select routing protocols, configure protocols to handle most common situations, evaluate network equipment and vendors, and set up a help desk. Although it focuses on Cisco routers, and gives examples using Cisco's IOS, the principles discussed are common to all IP networks.

Preface 
The Basics of IP Networking Addresses and Networks Private and Public Addresses 
The IP Routing Algorithm Domain Names and the Domain Name System 
Network Design 
Stating Your Goals - An Important First Step 
Network Architecture - How It All Fits 
Together Media Selection - What Goes Where? Physical Topology 
Network Design 
Hubs, Bridges, Switches, and Routers Router Placement Subnet Assignment and Mask 
Selection Proxy ARP as an Alternative to Subnets Redundancy and Fault Tolerance What About Multi-Protocol Networking? 
Selecting Network Equipment What is an IP Router? Router Selection Criteria 
Routing Protocol Selection Static vs. Dynamic Routing Classification of Dynamic Routing Protocols Selecting a Routing Protocol 
Routing Protocol Configuration Basic Configurations Propagating Static Routes 
Using Variable Length Subnet Masks with a Classful Protocol Backup Static Routes 
Suppressing Advertisements Restricting Sources of Routing Information Filtering 
Specific Routes from an Update Dynamic Routing with Multiple Paths 
Using Multiple Routing Protocols at the Same Time 
The Non-Technical Side of Network Management How You View Your Network 
Defining the Boundaries of your Network Staff Skills Costs Establishing a Help Desk 
The Technical Side of Network Management Monitoring the Network Troubleshooting 
Tools for Monitoring and Troubleshooting Change Management 
Connecting to the Outside World Planning Links to Other Organizations and the Internet 
How Do I Connect to the Internet? Addresses External Routing Permanent or On-Demand? 
Network Security What is Security? Assessing Your Security Needs 
Controlling Access Enhancing Privacy Maintaining Data Integrity Preventing Denial of Service Other Security Concerns 
Configuring Interfaces 
Where And How To Get New RFCs 
Obtaining Internet Drafts 
Obtaining IP Addresses 
Index