Wireshark Packet Exploration

June 7, 2013
Packets

While studying for the CCDA exam and attempting to read the CCDA Official Cert Guide Book (4th Edition) back to back completely things sometimes become a bit ‘bookish’ and ‘text-full’. When this happens it’s good to open up Wireshark, download a couple of packets traces from online repositories and see packets flying around here, there and everywhere.

To download sample captures of various protocols the following links are useful:

http://wiki.wireshark.org/SampleCaptures

http://www.netresec.com/?page=PcapFiles (Follow on links)

http://packetlife.net/captures/ ; http://packetlife.net/captures/leech/

Taking a look at the various control plane packet types of protocols being discussed in the book provides added insight into the underlying techniques being used. Wireshark is a great tool and provides time based analysis tools as well.

Breaking into the field of Cloud Computing Networking

March 12, 2013
Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing Networking is the new (not so new anymore!) buzz word in the industry these days. Having gained some knowledge about the field I would call it a mix of IT System Administration, Networking & Virtualization. I have a compiled a list of links where you can start to get into what it is all about. Here it is:

NIST Definition of Cloud Computing: http://www.nist.gov/itl/csd/cloud-102511.cfm

Ivan Pepelnjak’s Webinars, Screencasts & Blog: http://blog.ioshints.info/ & http://www.ipspace.net/Webinars (They’re definitely worth the investment)

Packet Pushers Podcast: http://packetpushers.net/

CiscoLive365.com: https://www.ciscolive365.com Requires registration. Video and PDF Tutorials from Cisco Experts

http://techfieldday.com: Insightful videos of discussion amongst experts of the field. (See Past events)

Of the above only Ivan Pepelnjak’s Webinars require an investment for yearly or roadmap subscription (Again, they’re worth it). The rest are freely available.

There are Research and Analysis Firms like (Alphabetical): ABI Research, Business Monitor International, Forrester Research, Gartner, Heavy Reading, IDC Research, IHS Publications, Infonetics Research, Informa, Light Reading, Yankee Group etc which are also covering the topic. They provide a wealth of information but cost ‘a lot’.

As a starting point I would recommend:

1. Reading the NIST Definition

2. Listening to some related Packet Pushers Podcasts.

3. Ivan’s Introduction to Virtualized Networking and Cloud Computing related Webinars

Enjoy! & be sure to have fun while Breaking into the field of Cloud Computing Networking.