Cisco Routers for the Desperate, 2nd Edition

Unpacking the Router

If you're lucky, your first introduction to Cisco routers will be a brown box arriving on your loading dock. This means that you'll learn how to configure the router by actually installing it, which is much easier than having to thoroughly understand a working setup. If you aren't this lucky, just pretend that your server room is a really big brown box and follow along. You may have to search the office for the place where your predecessor stashed some of the router accessories, but at least you'll know what you're looking for!

While the most interesting part is probably the router itself, be sure to find the console cable and adapter as well as the manuals and CD-ROMs. In a modern Cisco router, the console cable is usually ...