How do you know when a rogue device is on your network? With the advent of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increasing reliance on wireless connectivity, the risk of rogue devices infiltrating networks has become a pressing concern. These rogue devices, whether intentionally introduced by malicious actors or inadvertently connected […]
EIGRP Variance and Unequal Cost Load Balancing in Networking
EIGRP is an advanced routing protocol that was originally developed by Cisco, but has since been adopted by other vendors as well. Along with OSPF, it is one of the most popular Interior Gateway Protocols (IGPs) used by large enterprises for the internal routing of their networks. One of the advantages that EIGRP has over […]
Classful vs Classless IP Addressing – Comparison and Differences
Classful and Classless addressing are two methodologies used in the allocation and identification of IP addresses within the Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) framework. Classful addressing, which was the initial scheme, divides the IP address space into classes which determines each network’s size and its division between network and host identifiers. In contrast, classless addressing […]
What is SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) in Networking
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a widely used protocol for managing and monitoring network devices on IP networks. It enables network administrators to manage network performance, find and solve network problems, and plan for network growth. In this article, we’ll take an introductory look at the protocol, see how it works, and we will […]
What is Link Aggregation (LAG) in Networking?
Link aggregation is a technique used in networking to bundle multiple physical ports on a network device to operate as a single link. The aggregated link acts as a single logical port functioning at a speed equal to the sum of the bandwidths of all of the physical links. In this article, we’ll further explore […]
Unveiling the Significance of Network Automation in Contemporary Networking
The evolution of automation from a perceived myth to a tangible reality has been a remarkable journey. Its profound impact is notably evident in the realm of networking, where it has addressed various challenges that administrators faced in their day-to-day operations prior to its integration. These challenges included: Needing regular configuration backups because the absence […]
Comparison of Reported Distance vs Feasible Distance in EIGRP
One of the concepts involved with the EIGRP routing protocol that can sometimes be confusing is the idea of the feasible distance and the reported distance of a particular network destination. Understanding these two measurements of EIGRP is an important step in understanding some of the fundamental mechanisms of EIGRP. Definition of Terms Let’s start […]
BGP Multihoming – Influencing Enterprise to ISP Routing Using BGP
BGP is the de facto routing protocol deployed on the Internet. Large enterprise networks will typically run BGP on the edge of their networks to ensure that routing between the ISP and the enterprise network takes place in the best possible way. It is possible to use BGP to modify the way that the ISP […]
The Most Important Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Timers Explained
Border Gateway Protocol or BGP is a routing protocol that uses timers as part of its operation. Various timers perform different functions, and some are used for very specialized operations that are unique to BGP. In this article, we’ll be exploring some of the most common timers used for BGP as well as some less […]
Explanation and Comparison of OSPF E1 vs E2 Routes
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a popular routing protocol used in many production networks throughout the world. Understanding route types is important when designing an OSPF topology for efficient and effective operation. Among the various route types OSPF offers, the External types E1 and E2 play an important role in importing routes from outside […]
Comparison of GRE vs IPSEC Used in TCP/IP Networks
Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) and Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) are two related but distinctly different technologies. They can be deployed separately but can also work together (GRE over IPSec) to deliver network tunneling and security services to networks and individual users. In this article, we’ll explore these technologies to understand them, and compare them to […]
Main Types of Computer Network Diagrams and Their Importance
For the average end user, a computer network seems simple. All they need to do is plug their PC into an ethernet port or connect it via Wi-Fi, and presto-they’re connected and ready to work. The thing is, though, computer networks are vastly more complex under the hood than most people think. They’re so complex, […]
Discussion and Explanation of OSPF Graceful Restart and Shutdown
OSPF is one of the most popular routing protocols for enterprise networks. It has been around since the 1980s and has been continually updated and revised to conform to the requirements of modern IP networks. As such, it is an extremely mature and robust routing protocol that can be tweaked and fine-tuned in many ways […]