Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks

Course description
As converged networks and mobility become more and more important in daily business, these technologies need to be optimized in order to support business requirements. This course covers the role of the underlying IP network in supporting voice-over-IP and wireless LAN solutions, focusing on the use of QoS and security techniques. You will work on case studies and several labs based on Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR).


Learning objectives
After you complete this course, you will be able to:

• Describe requirements for converged networks with a focus on performance and wireless security
• Describe Cisco VoIP implementations
• Describe methods for implementing QoS on a converged network
• Explain the key IP QoS mechanisms used to implement the DiffServ QoS model
• Configure Cisco AutoQoS for the Enterprise
• Describe and configure wireless security, and basic wireless management

Who should attend
This course provides in-depth technical training for system engineers, network engineers, and field engineers who need to design, deploy, configure, and manage Cisco IOS routers and switches.


Recommended prerequisites

• CCNA certification or equivalent knowledge and experience
• Ability to complete the initial configuration of a Cisco IOS switch or router
• Ability to create interswitch connections and run show commands on a Cisco IOS switch or router
• Moderate knowledge of routing protocols
• Basic knowledge of standard WAN technologies (Frame Relay, PPP, and HDLC)
• Basic knowledge of standard and extended ACLs

Course outline
Module 1: Describe Network Requirements
Lesson 1: Describing Network Requirements

• IIN and Cisco SONA Framework
• Cisco Network Models
• Traffic Conditions in a Converged Network

Module 2: Describe Cisco VoIP Implementations
Lesson 1: Introducing VoIP Networks

• Benefits of Packet Telephony Networks
• Packet Telephony Components
• Analog Interfaces
• Digital Interfaces
• Stages of a Phone Call
• Distributed vs. Centralized Call Control

Lesson 2: Digitizing and Packetizing Voice

• Basic Voice Encoding: Converting Analog to Digital
• Basic Voice Encoding: Converting Digital to Analog
• The Nyquist Theorem
• Quantization
• Compression Bandwidth Requirements
• What Is a DSP?

Lesson 3: Encapsulating Voice Packets for Transport

• End-to-End Delivery of Voice Packets
• Explaining Protocols Used in Voice Encapsulation
• Reducing Header Overhead

Lesson 4: Calculating Bandwidth Requirements

• Impact of Voice Samples and Packet Size on Bandwidth
• Data-Link Overhead
• Security and Tunneling Overhead
• Calculating the Total Bandwidth for a VoIP Call
• Effects of VAD on Bandwidth

Lesson 5: Implementing Voice Support in an Enterprise Network

• Enterprise Voice Implementations
• Voice Gateway Functions on a Cisco Router
• Cisco Unified CallManager Functions
• Enterprise IP Telephony Deployment Models
• Identifying Voice Commands in Cisco IOS Configurations
• What Is CAC?

Module 3: Introduction to IP QoS
Lesson 1: Introducing QoS

• Converged Network Quality Issues
• Available Bandwidth
• End-to-End Delay
• Packet Loss
• QoS Defined
• Implementing QoS
• QoS Traffic Classes: The Requirements of Different Traffic Types
• QoS Policy

Lesson 2: Identifying Models for Implementing QoS

• QoS Models
• Best-Effort Model
• IntServ Model
• RSVP and the IntServ QoS Model
• DiffServ Model

Lesson 3: Identifying Methods for Implementing QoS

• Methods for Implementing QoS Policy
• Legacy CLI
• Modular QoS CLI
• Cisco AutoQoS
• Cisco SDM QoS Wizard
• QoS Implementation Methods Compared

Module 4: Implement the DiffServ QoS Model
Lesson 1: Introducing Classification and Marking

• Classification
• Marking
• Classification and Marking at the Link Layer
• DiffServ Model
• IP Precedence and DSCP Compatibility
• Per-Hop Behaviors
• DSCP Summary
• Mapping CoS to Network Layer QoS
• QoS Service Class Defined
• Implementing QoS Policy Using a QoS Service Class
• Trust Boundaries

Lesson 2: Using NBAR for Classification

• Network-Based Application Recognition
• NBAR Application Support
• Packet Description Language Module
• Protocol Discovery
• Configuring and Monitoring NBAR Protocol Discovery
• Configuring NBAR for Static Protocols
• Configuring Stateful NBAR for Dynamic Protocols

Lesson 3: Introducing Queuing Implementations

• Congestion and Queuing
• Queuing Algorithms
• FIFO
• Priority Queuing
• Round Robin
• Router Queuing Components

Lesson 4: Configuring WFQ

• Weighted Fair Queuing
• WFQ Architecture and Benefits
• Configuring and Monitoring WFQ

Lesson 5: Configuring CBWFQ and LLQ

• Describing Advanced Queuing Mechanisms
• Class-Based Weighted Fair Queuing
• CBWFQ Architecture and Benefits
• Configuring and Monitoring CBWFQ
• Low Latency Queuing
• LLQ Architecture and Benefits
• Configuring and Monitoring LLQ

Lesson 6: Introducing Congestion Avoidance

• Managing Interface Congestion with Tail Drop
• Tail Drop Limitations
• Random Early Detection
• Weighted Random Early Detection
• WRED Profiles
• Configuring CBWRED
• Monitoring CBWRED

Lesson 7: Introducing Traffic Policing and Shaping

• Traffic Policing and Shaping Overview
• Why Use Traffic Conditioners?
• Policing vs. Shaping
• Measuring Traffic Rates
• Single Token Bucket Class-Based Policing
• Cisco IOS Traffic Policing and Shaping Mechanisms
• Applying Traffic Conditioners

Lesson 8: Understanding WAN Link Efficiency Mechanisms

• Link Efficiency Mechanisms Overview
• Layer 2 Payload Compression
• Header Compression
• Large Packets "Freeze Out" Voice on Slow WAN Links
• Link Fragmentation and Interleaving
• Applying Link Efficiency Mechanisms

Lesson 9: Implementing QoS Preclassify

• Virtual Private Networks
• Implementing QoS with Preclassification
• QoS Preclassify Applications
• QoS Preclassification Deployment Options

Lesson 10: Deploying End-to-End QoS

• QoS SLAs
• Deploying End-to-End QoS
• Enterprise Campus QoS Implementations
• WAN Edge QoS Implementations
• What Is CoPP?

Module 5: Implement Cisco AutoQoS
Lesson 1: Introducing Cisco AutoQoS

• Cisco AutoQoS
• Cisco AutoQoS for the Enterprise: Router Deployment Restrictions
• Verifying Cisco AutoQoS

Lesson 2: Mitigating Common Cisco AutoQoS Issues

• Automation with Cisco AutoQoS
• Common Cisco AutoQoS Issues
• Interpreting Cisco AutoQoS Configurations
• Modifying the Active Cisco AutoQoS Configuration with MQC

Module 6: Implement Wireless Scalability
Lesson 1: Implementing WLAN QoS

• The Need for WLAN QoS
• WLAN QoS Description
• WLAN QoS Implementation
• WLAN QoS Configuration

Lesson 2: Introducing 802.1x

• The Need for WLAN Security
• Security Methods: Authentication and Encryption
• Cisco Enhanced 802.11 WEP Security
• 802.1x Overview
• LEAP
• EAP-FAST
• EAP-TLS
• PEAP
• Wi-Fi Protected Access

Lesson 3: Configuring Encryption and Authentication on Lightweight Access Points

• Open Authentication
• Static WEP Key Authentication
• Web Authentication
• 802.1x Authentication

Lesson 4: Managing WLANs

• Cisco Unified Wireless Network
• Cisco WLAN Implementation
• Describing WLAN Components
• CiscoWorks WLSE
• Cisco WCS
• Cisco WCS Location Tracking Options
• Cisco WCS Network Summary Page
• Cisco Wireless Location Appliance
• Cisco WCS Configuration Example
• Cisco WCS Maps
• Rogue Access Point Detection

Course labs
Lab 2-1: Setting Up and Initializing the ONT Lab
Lab 2-2: Placing and Examining VoIP Calls
Case Study 3-1: Selecting a Converged Network Strategy
Lab 3-2: Introducing MQC and the SDM QoS Wizard
Lab 4-1: Configuring NBAR
Lab 4-2: Configuring FIFO and WFQ Queuing Mechanisms
Lab 4-3: Configuring the LLQ Queuing Mechanism
Lab 4-4: Configuring Class-Based Header Compression
Lab 4-5: Configuring LFI
Lab 4-6: Configuring QoS Preclassify
Lab 5-1: Configuring QoS with Cisco AutoQoS
Lab 5-2: Using MQC to Tune QoS Mechanisms Configured with Cisco AutoQoS
Lab 5-3: Troubleshooting Converged Networks
Lab 6-1: Setting Up the Wireless LAN Controller
Lab 6-2: Configuring Security Using WPA-PSK
Lab 6-3: Configuring Advanced Security Using LEAP
Lab 6-4: Configuring Cisco WCS for WLANs