In this article we will explain and discuss OSPF Not So Stubby Area (NSSA) and also how to configure this Area type on Cisco routers. OSPF is a link state dynamic routing protocol that is used by routers to share routing information.  This allows routers to inform each other of the paths that should be […]

Layer 3 addressing can become difficult to manage in a network especially if you have an extensively large number of host devices.  With tens, hundreds, or even thousands of hosts in many enterprise networks, the need for an automated mechanism for assigning IP addresses and other network parameters was realized very early on. In this […]

A Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is a concept that has been around for over a decade.  SD-WAN is a WAN architecture that uses software-defined network technology to deliver a high availability, low cost, and highly flexible WAN connections over the Internet and other public networks. In this article, we will attempt to shed […]

Subnetting and supernetting are two processes that are applied to IPv4 address spaces.  Each one serves a different purpose and can be used in various applications.  In this article, we’ll examine and compare Subnetting vs Supernetting in IP networks and see how they are applied to various aspects of network design and configuration. Structure of […]

Communication is key in modern life. Emails, phone calls, video calls are obvious examples. But, video streaming, ecommerce, eLearning, gaming etc are also a kind of communication. We are performing some type of communication in most of our life aspects. Successful communication requires that all participating parties know how to “talk” to each other and, […]

Dynamic routing protocols are used by Layer 3 network devices to automatically share routing information.  Various routing protocols have been developed over the years, but most fall into one of three categories: Interior Gateway Protocol – Distance vector, such as EIGRP or RIP Interior Gateway Protocol – Link state, such as OSPF or IS-IS Exterior […]

The Internet Protocol (IP) is the fundamental protocol that enables end-to-end communication between hosts on the Internet. Living in the Network Layer of the OSI model, IP is able to reach the intended host by simply using the destination IP address and the routing protocols that have been configured on the networks between the hosts. […]

Network Address Translation (NAT) is a feature that enables the translation of IPv4 addresses.  It is most often used to translate private IPv4 addresses to public routable IPv4 addresses.  This feature has almost singlehandedly vastly increased the longevity of the IPv4 protocol as the primary Network Layer protocol running on the Internet, since it resolves […]

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and Routing Information Protocol (RIP) are two of the most well-known Internal Gateway Protocols (IGPs) among network professionals and enthusiasts alike.  Both are among the oldest routing protocols developed for IP networks, but they have evolved in very different ways, and are ultimately used today for very different purposes. Let’s […]

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and Enhanced Interior Gateway Protocol (EIGRP) are two of the most popular Internal Gateway Protocols (IGPs) employed in today’s modern IP networks.  Both are mature protocols, having been around for decades, and are extremely reliable, flexible, and highly configurable.  And yet, they are surprisingly dissimilar in their architecture, implementation, and […]

Every network engineer is familiar with Cisco, and with its multiple brand acquisitions, it’s even become a household name for consumers in addition to business professionals. Cisco isn’t the only major player in the hardware and TCP/IP networking game, however. This technology giant has at least a dozen formidable competitors, many of which have developed […]