EtherChannel Notes

• STP sees the portchannel as a single port

• channel-group x mode on : neither PAgP, nor LACP is used. To specify that we want LACP or PAgP, we must choose one of these modes: desirable, auto, active, passive.

• channel group number must be the same on both ends of the bundle.

• PAgP
• auto + desirable = portchannel created
• if something changes on one member port, PAgP applies same changes on the other member ports.
• "no-silent" submode: port channel requests that the other end sends PAgP packets
  

• L3 portchannel
• first, remove L2 capability on bundle member interfaces: no switchport
• on the portchannel, remove L2 capability and give it an ip address.
• Do the same on the other end of the bundle.
• Now the portchannel is a router port and can ping portchannel of the other end !
  

• Load Balancing: if we change the method, we must
• make the change,
  
• unbundle the ports,
• rebundle them
• do the same at the other end

• troubleshooting
• show etherchannel summary : see portchannels and their member ports
• show interfaces
• show vlan brief
  

How to build a home switching lab with GNS3 and Ubuntu

I already, in an old post, gave some useful links on how to build a GNS3 switching lab. But for people that messed a lot with GNS3, I give them my experience:

my CCNP BCMSN home lab
----------------------
- use latest GNS3 version on Ubuntu
- use 3725 IOS because it allows many switching features with NM-ESW16
- use 3725 router with NM-ESW16 installed as a module
- you can add a Multilayer Switch symbol that represents a 3725 router with NM-ESW16 module. it looks nice :)
- use the same big topology to practice individual features, and to do labs
- take notes during labs

- GNS3: "save" doesn't work, so
prepare your configs on a seperate document "e.g.: commands.txt"
copy/paste configs into the console window
after finishing the lab, and before closing GNS3, do export /all {destination_directory}
when reopening GNS3, do import /all {destination_directory}

- to simulate PC:
use 1700 routers
deactivate ip routing
configure appropriate default-gateway

Exporting and Importing router configurations in GNS3 on Linux Ubuntu

I decided to stick with my home GNS3 lab on Linux, not Windows. That's because Windows suffocates when I turn on 8 routers. Linux doesn't.
But, with Linux, I couldn't save my configurations on GNS3.
After searching on Internet, I decided to find my way out of this issue by myself. So I thought about "save", "export" and "import" commands on the Dynagen console.
Here it is:

1. you create a new project ( or open an existing one)
2. you do the lab
3. since the "save" button does not work for me, you do export /all {destination} where destination is the directory where you want to put your config files. For example: export /all /home/wassim/Desktop/homelabcfg

Nevermind about clicking on "save" on the menu bar of GNS3, mine doesn't work :)
If you close and reopen GNS3 and want to have your router configurations uploaded, you just type on the Dynagen console the following:
import /all {destination}
in my case: import /all /home/wassim/Desktop/homelabcfg
What if you have only one router config file and you do import /all ? what happens?
Dynagen simply displays some warning that it couldn't load the other router configs !
cool
now, each time I switch on my home lab, I import all previous configurations manually.
It's true it's less convinient than clicking on "save" but I must do with that.

After the Interview

I attended an interview this morning. Orange Telecoms is opening in our country so I gave it a try.
They called me the day I was in Kef and scheduled an interview.
There were 3 preliminary tests. Too many logic tests. Where the Hell did they come from? :) I got a headache after.
Then I met the recruitement agent, a young man in his early 30s. After some routine questions he asked me where I "see " myself on the company hierarchy.
I was disappointed. They have an already fixed hierarchy. Old stuff, old management.
I inquired about "consultant" and "application administrator" positions. Neither of them interested me. So I pointed upper.
"You have not the right qualifications to get that position. You are too young. We can't give you project management positions yet. What would employes say if they are supervised by a younger man?.."
I accepted every thing he mentioned, except the last sentence.
"What do I need to do to get that position?" " - work hard, work in projects".
On my way home, I felt that a new challenge is facing me. I need to think more about my current work now. I need to work on large projects, not on small troubleshooting tasks.
My current company is facing problems. We're losing contracts because of bad management. The problem is that we - support team- are aware of it, but managers aren't.
I'll wait and see what happens the coming days. Otherwise, I must work with IBM.
I need to become CCNP.

Personal Power II - Finished

I consider it as a small accomplishment. As I was listening to Tony's words, I recalled all those chunks of time I spent during the program.
Now, the challenge is to take action and do the exercises continually.

Near the Storm

I've been on a little mission in Kef. We had to setup the networking "stuff" of a new office. As usual, my job was to ensure that the configuration meets the IP scheme of the office. It was a regular task.
What was interesting, is that it was heavily raining. On the radio, we heard that storms and floods killed 17 people in the south. We're not in the south, but the storm is said to be coming near our region. Nice.
It was very cold. The three of us were wearing tee-shirts. People looked at us as if we were a band of crazies :). Really cold.
During a routine check, I received a phone call. I was greateful to Allah for it.

Tough Choice - part III

I'm almost fed up with my current job. The tasks become too monotonous, and my learning curve is hitting the ground. I need an exciting job. I need a new job.
But I'm confused. On one hand I want to improve my routing&switching skills so that I could one day prepare for CCIE. On the other, I'd like a more financially-rewarding job. But The opportunity I'm offered doesn't really include routing&swiching. It's about computer&network security.
I know, I said I'll give it a try. But I'm a little afraid of the future. I'm afraid to spend the years ahead on daily non-engineer-related tasks. I feel disgusted when I'm used in low-value tasks.
I'm confused and confusion is an often too subtle sign of paranoia