[GTALUG] Debian Linux as-a-router Guide

[James Knott]

On 2023-09-09 22:08, Alvin Starr via talk wrote:
>> I was thinking in terms of features.  As a (lapsed) CCNA, I agree 
>> they can be "fun" to configure.
>>
> I was thinking in terms of product quality.
> I have seen switches with up to 10% of ports with problems.
> It also seemed to me from that outside that to get a Cisco certificate 
> all you needed was to have the support phone number memorized.

I haven't experienced that issue and I have worked with quite a few 
devices.  I also have an 8 port Cisco switch here on my network.  I also 
have a Cisco 2600 series router, which I bought when I was working on my 
CCNA.  Also, I can assure you getting certified takes a lot more than 
memorizing phone numbers.  You have a timed test, in front of a computer 
and you have to get a passing grade in multiple sections, covering 
various topics.  Also, the wording of the questions means you have to 
give them a lot of thought.  Over the years, I have been certified for 
Novell Netware 3.x, OS/2 Warp 4 and CCNA.  The CCNA test is by far the 
most difficult.  One thing that annoyed me was the test covered some 
obsolete topics, such as frame relay, but MPLS was not even mentioned.  
The last time I saw frame relay was about 20 years before I got my 
CCNA.  Also, they should have also been covering shortest path bridging, 
in addition to spanning tree.  There were a few other things where they 
could have covered something a bit newer, with less emphasis on older stuff.