The AUX port, or auxiliary port, has been a fixture on the back of Cisco access routers for almost 30 years. It was also used on other distribution and core routers as well. Although these ports have sat right next to their sibling, the console port, they are not functionally used much anymore and have become almost forgotten, especially in the Cisco Network Academy … [Read more...] about HowTo: Configure an AUX port on a Cisco Router
How To's
HowTo: Backup your VMs off an ESXi Server
One of the biggest challenges that I have had using VMWare's ESXi server in my home lab is efficiently backup up a VM Image. At times I want to take a snapshot of a machine to back it up or take it to another machine that I might be working with. The most obvious way to move a machine is to use the the Datastore Browser through the web interface into the ESXi host. Select … [Read more...] about HowTo: Backup your VMs off an ESXi Server
HowTo: Understand Cisco DTP
It can be very confusing to understand how Ethernet switch trunks get setup on a switch when using Cisco's Dynamic Trunking Protocol. Understanding how the different modes is critical to designing how you want the ports to behave. Here is a table that represents the different modes a link can come up in based on the DTP/port settings on each end. I have added the Cisco IOS … [Read more...] about HowTo: Understand Cisco DTP
HowTo: Use a Cisco ISR router as your home Internet router
Are you working on getting your CCNA certification? Taking a Cisco Network Academy CCNA/CCNP class? Want get get some more real world experience and use what you are learning on a day-to-day basis? Then you should get a Cisco ISR router for your home and replace your current consumer Internet router. Before I go on any further, the first scenario that I am going to run … [Read more...] about HowTo: Use a Cisco ISR router as your home Internet router
HowTo: Configuring a NTP server on a Cisco IOS device
Configuring a Cisco IOS device (router/switch) is probably one of the easiest things that you can do. But there is a little homework you should to do make sure you implement a NTP configuration that will perform well. Define your NTP Strategy Before you start, you need to determine your NTP strategy. The ultimate goal is that all of the devices in your network should … [Read more...] about HowTo: Configuring a NTP server on a Cisco IOS device