Page 8

xxii

Introduction

Cisco Systems has since become an unrivaled worldwide leader in

networking for the Internet. Its networking solutions can easily connect
users who work from diverse devices on disparate networks. Cisco
products make it simple for people to access and transfer information
without regard to differences in time, place, or platform.

Cisco Systems' big picture is that it provides end-to-end networking

solutions that customers can use to build an efficient, unified information
infrastructure of their own or to connect to someone else's. This is an
important piece in the Internet/networking-industry puzzle because a
common architecture that delivers consistent network services to all users
is now a functional imperative. Because Cisco Systems offers such a
broad range of networking and Internet services and capabilities, users
needing regular access to their local network or the Internet can do so
unhindered, making Cisco's wares indispensable.

Cisco answers this need with a wide range of hardware products that are used

to form information networks using the Cisco Internetworking Operating System
(IOS) software. This software provides network services, paving the way for net-
worked technical support and professional services to maintain and optimize all
network operations.

Along with the Cisco IOS, one of the services Cisco created to help support the

vast amount of hardware it has engineered is the Cisco Certified Internetworking
Expert (CCIE) program, which was designed specifically to equip people to effec-
tively manage the vast quantity of installed Cisco networks. The business plan is
simple: If you want to sell more Cisco equipment and have more Cisco networks
installed, ensure that the networks you installed run properly.

However, having a fabulous product line isn't all it takes to guarantee the

huge success that Cisco enjoys--lots of companies with great products are
now defunct. If you have complicated products designed to solve compli-
cated problems, you need knowledgeable people who are fully capable of
installing, managing, and troubleshooting them. That part isn't easy, so
Cisco began the CCIE program to equip people to support these complicated
networks. This program, known colloquially as the Doctorate of Network-
ing, has also been very successful, primarily due to its extreme difficulty.
Cisco continuously monitors the program, changing it as it sees fit, to make
sure that it remains pertinent and accurately reflects the demands of today's
internetworking business environments.

Building upon the highly successful CCIE program, Cisco Career Certifi-

cations permit you to become certified at various levels of technical profi-
ciency, spanning the disciplines of network design and support. So, whether
you're beginning a career, changing careers, securing your present position,
or seeking to refine and promote your position, this is the book for you!

www.sybex.com