I was inspired to put together videos that covered basic networking skills last year, while working with an install team as a lead technician. Everyone on the team had a different level of experience, which is always a challenge.
For example, when I asked someone to retrieve a backup router and reconfigure it, I was told that there something "weird" with the replacement router. When I asked what was wrong, the admins explained that even though they configured the router, the router was ignoring it. I understood right away what the problem was; it's a common one that can trip up inexperienced IT admins. When a router is rebooted or loses power, it can lose the configuration you set. In this video, I demonstrate the problem.
I explained to the install team that some people set the configuration registry to ignore the configuration when storing equipment. Using the show version command, I showed them that the registry was set for 0x2142, which tells the router to ignore the startup configuration. I then used the show startup-config command to prove that the configuration was indeed there. I revealed that the solution is to write config-register 0x2102.
When we reloaded the router, the configuration was no longer ignored. Cisco explains this issue in more detail in a troubleshooting tip.
I always try to figure out if equipment I use is susceptible to this problem in case I ever run into it.
As an aside, when it comes to getting familiar with configuration commands in a Cisco environment, you don’t even need to have the physical equipment. You can use Cisco’s Packet Tracer software to run tests on a simulated network without fearing that you may mess something up.
While current networks have adapted to today’s virtual world, there is a dire need for future networks to extend their capabilities and deliver more value.
By automating tasks that were formerly done by humans, IT teams are freed up to focus on more strategic projects that they are uniquely able to address.
Whether COVID-19 causes your organization to return to work-from-home or not, here are some remote work tips for managers and employees.
Insights about network performance under the stress of COVID will guide how infrastructure is built and managed well after the emergency has subsided.
With the disruption caused by COVID, now may be the right time for network administrators to reevaluate their remote access connectivity architecture.
