Certifications are often lambasted as “worthless pieces of paper” and “experience is more important.” But for some people, certifications are more important than experience. A substitute for experience Newcomers to the IT world face the classic problem: how do you get experience without a job? Sure, you can tinker …

I think it’s time to stop using the term “network function virtualization”. Why? Because it doesn’t exist, at least not in the way the term suggests. The term is a category error, and when people try to make sense of the term, confusion and frustration ensue. Think of it like this: what’s the difference between a …

The pre-release of my new book, Learn Cisco Network Administration in a Month of Lunches, is available from Manning Publications’ early access program. The book is a tutorial designed for beginners who want to learn how to administer Cisco switches and routers. Set aside a portion of your lunch hour every day for a …

You can pass the CCNP R&S exams the first time, but it’s not as simple as just studying everything. Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing… The CCNP exams test CCNA-level skills and knowledge, too That’s a good thing, because it helps weed out those who “brain dump” the exams. If you got lucky with …

One of the biggest scams of the Internet is in full swing right now. You may have heard of it. It’s called “net neutrality.” Fundamentally, net neutrality is about preventing Internet service providers (ISPs) from throttling or blocking traffic or providing paid prioritization of certain content. In addition, specific …

Books For book reviews, visit my Amazon author page Networking Courses Cisco Enterprise Networks: Basic Networking and IP Fundamentals Ben knows how to present ideas in a simple way that even a newbie can easily follow. Great job. Great instructor, clear easy to follow theory followed up by a good practical lab! …