This book starts where certification exams leave off. Network Warrior provides a thorough and practical guide to the entire network infrastructure, from cabling to the routers and beyond. You'll learn how to deal with real Cisco networks, rather than the hypothetical situations presented on exams like the CCNA. The strategies and examples outlined in this book provide the tools you need to do your job well. Revised and updated for the latest Cisco technology -- including the Nexus 7000 series -- this second edition takes you step by step through the world of routers, switches, firewalls, and more, including ways to troubleshoot a congested network, and when to upgrade and why. Topics include: Types of networks in use, from LANs, WANs and MANs to CANs Switches, routers, firewalls, and many other devices Auto negotiation and why it's a common cause of network slowdowns Telecom nomenclature and why it's different from the data world T1 and DS3 explained for the networking professional Firewall theory, design, and configuration How to design route maps and access lists in Cisco devices Server load balancing technology How QoS really works (and what it cannot do) How to plan and deploy a network