Blog | Computer Networking Courses Online

What is VTP in Networking: Explained

January 24, 2024April 20, 2023 by Surbhi

VTP in networking is one of the crucial topics in IT. One can acquire the skills required to manage, configure, troubleshoot, and analyze the VLAN by learning VTP in networking.

Therefore, keep reading the blog till the end to learn everything regarding VTP in networking.

What is VTP in networking?

VTP stands for VLAN Trunking Protocol. It is a layer-2 protocol. In a small network, the number of switches is less, so we can configure VLANs individually. But it is not an easy task to configure VLANs individually in large networks. Therefore, VTP is the one-stop solution for this.

Putting one switch in VTP server mode and the other in VTP client mode, you can configure VLANs in one go. VTP allows you to configure VLANs on a central VTP server switch while VTP clients coordinate their VLAN database to the server.

What are the techniques of VTP in networking?

There are two techniques of VTP in networking, namely-

Frame Filtering

The frame filtering method analyses information regarding each frame (MAC address or a layer-3 protocol) in the VTP domain.

Frame Tagging

The frame tagging method sets a distinctive identifier in the header as it gets forwarded to the VTP domain.

What are the modes of VTP in networking?

There are three modes of VTP in networking, namely-

VTP Server Mode
VTP Client Mode
VTP Transparent Mode

VTP Server Mode

It allows you to add, modify and delete VLANs.
It stored the VLAN database in NVRAM.
The revision number (CR value) increases whenever a new VLAN is added or deleted.

NOTE: What is the configuration number (CR number)?
CR number represents the total count of changes done in configuration. Whenever there is any update, the CR value is incremented by 1. CR value and revision number are the same things.

The VTP server advertises all VLANs on a trunk port, and the VTP client synchronizes their database to it so that whenever a new VLAN gets added to the VTP server, it automatically gets created in VTP clients. The CR number also gets updated automatically (the CR value is the same as the VTP server).

VTP servers also behave as VTP clients. Therefore, a VTP server synchronizes with another VTP server with a higher revision number.

VTP Client Mode

You can’t add, modify or delete VLANs in this mode.
Don’t store the VLAN database in NVRAM.

VTP Transparent Mode

A switch configured in transparent mode does not participate in the VTP domain and forwards the advertisements in the same domain.
Maintain their own VLAN database in NVRAM. You can add or delete VLAN in this mode. But these VLANs will not advertise in the VTP domain.

What are the components of VTP in networking?

There are three components of VTP in networking, namely-

VTP Domain

The VTP domain limits configuration changes in the network while resolving the fallacies. One can never construct or alter VLANs on a VTP server mode until the domain name gets specified since it consists of single or multiple interconnected switches.

VTP Pruning

The VTP pruning component precludes unnecessary flooding of broadcast information from one VLAN across all trunks in the VTP domain, as it allows pruning on one VTP server switch and gets disabled by default.

VTP Advertisements

The VTP advertisements mode uses a scale of advertisements to coincide and disperse VLAN configurations in the network.

What are the kinds of VTP advertisements in IT?

There are three kinds of VTP advertisements in IT, namely-

VTP Summary Advertisement

The VTP summary advertisement includes the VTP version, VTP domain, CR number and time stamps. VTP summary advertisement occurs every 300sec (5 min.) when a VLAN gets added, removed or changed.

VTP Subset Advertisement

The VTP subset advertisement contains all the information on VLANs required by VTP clients to coordinate the VLAN database to the server.

VTP Request Advertisement

The VTP request advertisement gets sent by a VTP client. After receiving the summary advertisement, when the VTP client finds a higher CR value in the summary advertisement, it sends the client a request advertisement for detailed subset advertisements.

How does VTP work?

Step 1) On switch S1, VLAN A and VLAN B get transmitted via a single port to the router and another port to switch S2.

Step 2) VLAN C and VLAN D are trunked from switch 2 to switch S1 and the router.

Step 3) The trunk link from switch S1 to the router must get carried to all four VLANs.

Step 4) If VLAN A needs to get to a computer on VLAN B (or VLAN C or VLAN D), it must traverse from the S1 or S2 to the router and return to another S2 or S1 simultaneously.

What are the advantages of working with VTP in networking?

The advantages of working with VTP in networking are as follows-

VTP helps in separating the network
VTP allows accurate VLAN tracking and monitoring
VTP provides dynamic reporting of VLANs
VTP offers management of the VLAN database
VTP reduces the VLAN management

What are the different versions of VTP?

There are three versions of VTP in networking, namely-

NOTE: V1 & V2 are almost similar, except that V2 adds support for token ring VLANs while V3 is the advanced version of VTP in networking.

Wrapping Up!

VTP is a crucial concept in networking. And since now you are familiar with the topic, dive into the configuration process to manage the functionality of routers and switches with VLANs.

Therefore, feel free to write to us with any queries regarding VTP in networking.

Happy Learning!

FAQs:

01. What is VTP?

02. What is the best version of VTP?

The best version of VTP is V3 since it comprises more advanced and proficient benefits than the previous two.

03. What is the advantage of VTP in networking?

The advantage of VTP in networking is that it segregates the network into smaller segments without compromising the quality.

04. What are the techniques of VTP?

The techniques of VTP are as follows- 1. Frame Filtering, 2. Frame Tagging

05. What are the modes of VTP in networking?

The modes of VTP in networking are as follows- 1. VTP Server Mode, 2. VTP Client Mode, 3. VTP Transparent Mode

06. What are the components of VTP in networking?

The components of VTP in networking are as follows- 1. VTP Domain, 2. VTP Pruning, 3. VTP Advertisement

Difference Between OSI and TCP/IP Models

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by Surbhi

Are you looking for the difference between the OSI and TCP/IP models? Look no further! This blog will provide in-detailed information regarding the OSI and TCP/IP models in networking.

Therefore keep reading the blog till the end to familiarize yourself with the concepts.

What is OSI?

The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model is a conceptual framework describing layers used by computer systems to communicate over a network.

The OSI model illustrates computing functions into a versatile set of rules and provisions to support compatibility between different derivatives and software.

What are the layers of the OSI model?

There are seven layers of the TCP/IP model, namely-

Application Layer
Presentation Layer
Session Layer
Transport Layer
Network Layer
Data Link Layer
Physical Layer

What is TCP/IP?

The TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) model deals with the connection-orientated protocols determining that a device must establish a link before transmitting, acquiring or swapping the data or information.

Also, one must ensure the closure of the connection after exchanging the data and information in the TCP/IP model.

What are the layers of the TCP/IP model?

There are four layers of the TCP/IP model, namely-

Process/Application Layer
Host-to-Host/Transport Layer
Internet Layer
Network Access/Link Layer

Difference between OSI and TCP/IP.

The difference between OSI and TCP/IP models is as follows-

	OSI	TCP/IP
Full Form	Open System Interconnection	Transmission Control Protocol
Developer	ISO (International Standard Organization) has developed the OSI model.	ARPANET (Advanced Research Project Agency Network) has developed TCP/IP model.
Definition	An autonomous measure and generic protocol used as a transmission gateway between the network and the end user refers to the OSI model.	A standard protocol leading to the development of the internet and acting as a transmission protocol establishing the connection among the hosts refers to TCP/IP model.
Transport Layer	The transport layer assures the delivery of the packets in the OSI model.	The transport layer does not ensure the delivery of packets in the TCP/IP model.
Approach	The OSI model works on a vertical approach.	The TCP/IP model works on a horizontal approach.
Session/Presentation Layer	The session and presentation layers are separate in the OSI model.	The session and presentation layers are not distinguishable in the TCP/IP model.
Model	OSI is a reference model via which various networks get built.	The TCP/IP is an executed model of OSI.
Service	The network layer provides connection-oriented and connectionless services in the OSI model.	The network layer delivers solely connectionless service in the TCP/IP model.
Protocols	The protocols are hidden and can get easily replaced in the OSI model.	The protocols can not get easily replaced in the TCP/IP model.
Layering	A total of seven layers are there in the OSI model.	A total of four layers are there in the TCP/IP model.
Dependency	It does not depend on protocols.	It depends on protocols.
Usage	The usage of the OSI model is low.	The usage of the TCP/IP model is high.
Standardization	The OSI model standardizes routers, motherboards, switches, and other hardware.	The TCP/IP model provides no standardization but a connection between computers.
Distinction	OSI model distinctions between the services, protocols, and interface.	The TCP/IP model does not distinguish between the services, protocols, and interfaces.
Reliability	OSI model is reliable.	TCP/IP model is reliable.

Explain the similarities between OSI and TCP/IP models.

The similarities between the OSI and TCP/IP models are as follows-

Both models are layered and build upon one another to provide end-to-end communication.
Both models have physical layering for transmitting raw data over a physical medium.
Both models have a network layer for routing data between networks.
Both models have a transport layer to provide reliable or unreliable end-to-end delivery of data.
Both models have an application layer to provide services to end users.
Both models have a session layer to manage the maintenance and termination of sessions between applications.
Both models have a presentation layer to handle the translation and encryption of data.
Both models use protocols to define the rules and formats for communication between different layers and devices.
Both models are open standards that get widely used in networking.
Both models have limitations and weaknesses; network engineers often use their combination to design and troubleshoot complex networks.

Use of OSI and TCP/IP models

The OSI and TCP/IP models get used in the following ways-

Web Browsing

While browsing the internet, your web browser sends a request to a server via multiple OSI layers. The request gets broken down into packets using TCP/IP, which then transmit across the internet to the server to create the requested webpage.

Email

While sending an email, a client uses the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to send the message, which uses the OSI model to process and route the message to its intended recipient.

Video Conferencing

While in a video conference, the audio and video data gets broken down into packets using TCP/IP and sent across the network, forming the audio and video stream.

Online Gaming

Online games use TCP/IP to transmit game data between players.

Wrapping Up!

The OSI and TCP/IP models are crucial networking components that help to transmit data and information between users and devices. They share the same architecture, have pre-defined standards, require a simplified troubleshooting procedure, and have identical ‘transport‘ and ‘network‘ layers functionality.

For more details, refer to our blogs on the OSI and TCP/IP model to learn the concepts better. Also, for any queries and questions, feel free to write in the box below.

Happy Learning!

FAQs:

01. Mention the different layers of the OSI model.

There are seven layers of the TCP/IP model, namely- Application Layer, Presentation Layer, Session Layer, Transport Layer, Network Layer, Data Link Layer, Physical Layer,

02. Mention the different layers of the TCP/IP model.

There are four layers of the TCP/IP model, namely- Process/Application Layer, Host-to-Host/Transport Layer, Internet Layer, Network Access/Link Layer,

03. Is the OSI model reliable?

The transport layer ensures the delivery of packets in the OSI model, making it reliable.

04. Is the TCP/IP model reliable?

The transport layer does not ensure the delivery of packets in the TCP/IP model, but it is still reliable.

05. What is the advantage of OSI over TCP?

The advantage of using OSI over TCP is that the protocols are hidden and easily replaceable in the OSI model than the TCP/IP model.

06. How are TCP and OSI similar?

TCP and OSI are similar since both models use protocols to define the rules and formats for communication between different layers and devices and are layered and built upon one another to provide end-to-end communication.

What are Configuration Management Tools?

April 14, 2023April 14, 2023 by Aakriti

In this blog, you will learn about various configuration management tools which is included in CCNA course. Before we dig into the various types of configuration management tools, it is important to understand what is meant by these tools.

Note: If you have been following up with our new CCNA series, you might have come across the concept of wireless network security. If you haven’t, I recommend you do so before jumping on to this blog.

Imagine you are a network/system administrator and you manage hundreds of networks on various devices all by yourself. The main goal of your work will be to make sure that all the devices work by following the same network standards.

To ensure that, you will need a mapping system showing you all the networks, the interconnections, the interdependencies, and who is connected to whom. This is where the configuration management tools come in handy. They show you the complete picture of all the networks you’re monitoring.

So, in this guide, we will learn more about automation tools to ace the CCNA 200-301 exam. You will learn what is meant by configuration management tools, their purpose, and capabilities, why we use them, and the various configuration management tools that are used.

You will get introduced to the characteristics of the following configuration management tools:

Ansible
Puppet
Chef

The above-mentioned automation tools are suitable for any network. However, they are best suited for medium to large networks with thousands of connected devices.

Without further ado, let us now begin learning!

What is Meant By Configuration Management Tools?

A lot of people compare these tools to DevOps, however, DevOps is used to collaborate with people. Configuration management tools, on the other hand, are meant to automate the process of identifying, tracking, and noting down the changes in hardware, software, and devices in a network infrastructure.

In other words, these configuration management tools help to analyze the impact of change in any hardware or software on the whole system. This helps in reducing network disruption.

Therefore, configuration management tools can be defined as network automation tools that allow centralized control of a large number of network devices. Ansible, Puppet and Chef are the three most popular tools that you must be aware of.

Do you know that these tools were not specially built for network automation. However, these came into existence after the rise of virtual machines. Therefore, these tools have been used by system and network administrators to create, configure and remove virtual machines.

These configuration tools are now mostly used in managing network devices and to automate them. Ansible is the most popular configuration management tool of them all!

What are the Uses of the Configuration Management Tools?

These tools can be used to perform the following tasks:

These tools can be used to generate configurations for new devices on a very large scale.
These can be used to make configuration changes on devices present in a network or on a specific group of devices.
These tools can also be used to keep a check on device configurations to know if they function in tune with defined standards.
These tools can be used to compare configurations between devices and between various versions of configurations on the same device.

Why Do We Need Configuration Management Tools?

There are two major reasons why we need configuration management tools. These are:

Configuration Drift:
When we buy a new laptop, we change its wallpaper, font size and even change its configuration settings. This causes a drift/deviation in a device’s standard settings that are defined by a company.
This is known as configuration drift.
This can lead to future issues.
It is best to have standard configuration management practices even without automation tools.

Configuration Provisioning:
The way how configuration changes are applied to a device refers to configuration provisioning.
It is done by connecting to devices one-by-one through SSH. This is a traditional method.
However, this method is not suitable for large networks.
This is where the role of configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef, etc. comes into play.
They allow us to make changes to the devices on a large scale within a fraction of the time and effort.

What are the Basic Characteristics of Configuration Management Tools?

Let us now go over the fundamental features of each of the configuration management tools one by one:

Ansible:

Ansible is one of the most popular configuration management tools and is owned by Red Hat.
It has been coded in Python.
It does not need any special software to run on managed devices. Therefore, it is agentless.
It makes use of SSH to connect to devices, perform configuration changes and take out information, etc.
It follows a push model. The Ansible server pushes the configurations to managed devices.
Puppet and chef use a pull model.
The following text files have to be created after installing Ansible:
- Playbooks: These are the overall blueprints of automation tasks. They contain the logic and action of each task. These are coded in YAML.
- Inventory: These are the files that keep a record of all the devices that are managed by Ansible. These are written in INI, YAML, and many other formats.
- Templates: These files showcase a device’s configuration files. These are written in Jinja2 format.
- Variables: These files contain variables along with their values. These are written in YAML format.

Puppet:

It is the second most popular configuration management tool.
It has been coded in Ruby.
It is agent-based.
It needs specific software to be run on managed devices.
You must note that not all Cisco devices support a Puppet agent.
You can run Puppet without the help of any agent.
The proxy agent runs on an external host. It uses SSH to connect to managed devices.
The server of the Puppet management tool is called ‘Puppet Master’.
The client pulls the configurations from the Puppet Master. Therefore, Puppet runs on a pull model.
It makes use of a proprietary language instead of YAML.
The following text files are needed after installing Puppet:
- Manifest: The desired configuration state of a network device is defined by Manifest.
- Templates: These are quite similar to the templates of Ansible. These are used to build Manifest.

Chef:

Like Puppet, it is also a management tool written in Ruby.
It is based on an agent. Therefore, it requires specific software to run on managed devices.
The Chef agent is not supported by all Cisco devices.
A Domain-Specific Language (DSL) is used by files that are based on the Ruby language.
The Chef uses the following text files:
- Resources: These represent the configuration objects managed by Chef.
- Recipes: These represent ‘recipes’ in a cookbook. They consist of all the logic and actions for the task performed on resources.
- Cookbook: These represent a group of recipes together.

It’s a Wrap!

In this blog, we discussed various configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, and Chef. You learned the difference between the basic characteristics of these tools.

You also learned why it is important for network devices to stay true to their standard configuration settings.

Happy learning!

Is CCNA Difficult to Pass?

April 13, 2023 by Aakriti

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is the world’s best entry-level certification to enter the network infrastructure industry. Nine out of ten network engineer aspirants aim to get CCNA knowledge to enter the networking domain. This gives rise to a crucial question: Is CCNA Difficult to Pass?

CCNA being a popular certification does not mean that it is easier to crack than other certifications! The credit for its popularity goes to the global recognition of the Cisco certifications and being an unmatched leader on top of all other networking certifications, be it CompTIA or Juniper Networks.

It requires practice, constant hard work, and dedication to pass the CCNA 200-301 exam which is the most renowned networking exam across the globe. In this blog, we are going to address one of the most asked questions: Is the CCNA exam difficult to pass?

To answer that, let me make you familiar with the CCNA first! Keep on reading to know everything about CCNA course.

P.S. I have also dropped tips to easily crack the CCNA exam at the end of the blog. Make sure that you stick to the end.

What is CCNA certification?

Elaborated as Cisco Certified Network Associate, CCNA certification is the industry leader in networking, especially routing and switching certifications. It has been the world leader for over 15 years now.

This shows how you can get an edge over others by taking the CCNA exam. Therefore, CCNA is an associate or an entry-level network infrastructure certification meant for candidates who want to begin their career as entry-level network engineers.

The best part about this certification is that anyone from any educational background can enroll in the CCNA course. No matter what your background is in your graduate degree, CCNA is open to everyone irrespective of their proficiency in computers.

Therefore, CCNA is quite a popular choice of networking certification for those belonging to technical as well as non-technical backgrounds!

As far as the difficulty is concerned, the right amount of practice can always outweigh it.

What’s covered in the CCNA course curriculum?

The CCNA is a versatile certification that covers everything about networking, especially routing and switching. As it trains you to become an entry-level network engineer, you learn to configure, implement, manage, monitor and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks.

The following concepts are covered in the CCNA course:

Get an overview of networking fundamentals with a special focus on routers, switches, firewalls, endpoints, controllers, servers, etc.
Learn in detail about network topology architectures.
Get introduced to the concepts of IPv4 and IPv6 addressing.
Learn in-depth about the OSI model and the new TCP/IP model.
Understand the difference between TCP and UDP.
Learn the fundamentals of virtualization such as containers, VRFs, etc.
Understand switching concepts in detail.
Learn in detail about the Layer 2 discovery protocols.
Get introduced to Spanning Tree Protocol and Rapid PVST+.
Get to know about the WLAN components.
Understand the components of the routing table and learn how the router makes a forward decision.
Get introduced to the OSPFv2.
Learn IP services and learn about NAT along with pools and static.
Learn about DHCP and DNS in a network.
Learn to configure network devices using SSH.
Learn about TFTP/FTP in a network setup.
Get introduced to the key security concepts.
Learn about security 2-layer features.
Learn wireless security protocols.
Understand the concepts of network automation in network management.
Learn controller-based software-defined architectures.
Learn in detail about the characteristics of REST-based APIs.
Understand how to interpret JSON-encoded data.
Get introduced to configuration management mechanisms such as Chef, Puppet and Ansible.

All of the above-mentioned topics are covered in-depth in a CCNA course. After looking at all these topics, you may find that CCNA is not that too difficult or too easy to pass.

What skills do you gain after the CCNA course?

The CCNA course makes you proficient in managing and configuring small-sized to medium-sized enterprise networks. You acquire the skills of managing and optimizing even the world’s most advanced and modern networks.

After gaining the CCNA knowledge, you learn to examine hardware components, perform recovery operations, create data backups, resolve and troubleshoot customer issues, monitor network performance, and perform network security measures.

Is CCNA difficult to pass? Explained

The CCNA exam is neither too difficult nor too easy. It takes the right amount of hands-on practice to pass the CCNA exam.

You need to score at least 800 marks out of 1000 in order to pass the CCNA exam. The exam consists of multiple choice questions, drag and drop along with simulation questions.

A lot of candidates struggle with the simulation-type questions as they are a bit difficult to solve. Therefore, it is crucial to practice as many simulation questions as possible to get a hold of the concepts hands-on.

If you enroll yourself in the CCNA course at Network Kings, you can take the weight off of your shoulders as we provide access to the world’s biggest Cisco labs which include Cisco Packet Tracer, EVE-NG, etc.

Our major focus is to make you proficient with real-world networking problems. On top of that, you get to learn directly from Network Engineers with over 12 years of experience!

With all these things combined, you can easily crack the CCNA 200-301 exam in a span of 3-5 months.

Top 3 tips to crack the CCNA exam

Here are three sure-shot secrets to ace your CCNA exam in the first go:

Master foundational concepts:

CCNA is full of basic concepts of networking and network security. OSI model along with TCP/IP model are very important topics to master. Along with it, you must be aware of all the networking devices and their functions.

Practice simulation questions:

Multiple-choice questions are comparatively easier to solve than simulation questions. Therefore, I recommend you check out Network Kings on YouTube to practice questions hands-on in Packet Tracer.

For your ease, I have linked our 2+ hours of free content to practice lab questions for CCNA!

Aim for a daily target:

Make it your habit to solve at least 5-10 questions related to CCNA every day. You can give mock tests for CCNA to further sharpen your skills!

It’s a Wrap!

Cisco’s CCNA is the most renowned networking certification across the globe. It is very important to focus on simulation-based questions to ace the CCNA exam.

In this guide, I have summed up all the important concepts that you need to learn in order to pass the CCNA exam. To conclude, it is not that difficult to clear the CCNA exam. Anyone can do it irrespective of their educational background.

Happy learning!

Top 15+ Most-Asked Palo Alto Firewall Interview Question and Answers:

April 20, 2023April 12, 2023 by Aakriti

paloalto Interview Questions and Answers

Palo Alto Firewall Interview Questions and Answers: Be it any business organization, from healthcare to banking to enterprise ecosystem, privacy remains the utmost concern for any of them. These organizations are filled with unlimited user databases. They cannot afford to lose it. Here comes the role of a Firewall Engineer.

If you really want to become a Firewall Engineer, look no further than the world’s number one firewall. It is none other than the Palo Alto Firewall. In this blog, we have collected the top and most-updated questions.

You can go through this question guide easily and ace your interview exam. Let’s look at all these questions. Without further ado, let’s begin.

1. What are the various deployment modes in Palo Alto?

In Palo Alto, you can choose from four deployment models. These are:

Tap mode deployment option
Virtual (V-Wire) Deployment option
Layer 2 deployment option
Layer 3 deployment option
Tap mode deployment option:

You can watch out for any form of traffic flow throughout the networking system with the help of a tap or switch SPAN/mirror port. This deployment option allows enterprises to closely look at the traffic. They can look out for the traffic to their servers or network without any network infrastructure upgrades. It is important to configure the right SPAN source and SPAN destination ports. It is also very crucial to turn on the Tap mode while configuring SPAN on the firewall. The firewall is not able to manage traffic in this mode because no security rules can be applied. Therefore, the tap interface needs to be used in a security zone.

Virtual (V-Wire) Deployment option:

The firewall system is installed passively on any network segment with the help of this deployment model. Engineers can look out and control traffic across the link with V-Wire deployment choices. Apple-ID, User-ID, Content-ID, NAT and decryption are supported with the help of the Virtual Wire interface.

Layer 2 deployment option:

The VLAN mode or ‘virtual-switch’ mode allows the configuration of multiple networking interfaces. The firewall is set in Layer 2 deployment mode. This allows it to switch between two or more network segments. The traffic passing through the firewall is analyzed on the basis of policies, increased security, and visibility within the internal network.

Layer 3 deployment option:

The routes of the Palo Alto firewall allow traffic to flow between a number of interfaces in the layer 3 deployments. The IP address needs to be added to each interface by the user. It is the most common configuration mode of deployment. The firewall directs traffic between many interfaces. Each of these interfaces have their own IP address and security zone.

2. Is Palo Alto a stateful firewall?

Yes, Palo Alto is a stateful firewall. It is because all the firewall traffic can be passed on through the Palo Alto system. Later, these are matched against a session. Each session must match against a firewall cybersecurity policy as well.

3. What is the function of Palo Alto focus?

The Palo Alto focus is one of the most important services of Palo Alto. It is used to identify critical attacks and take the required action without the use of additional resources. It is referred to as the cloud-based threat intelligence service.

4. What is the Application Command Center (ACC)?

The application command center (ACC) allows visibility to traffic patterns and actionable information on threats in the firewall network logs.

5. Which command is used to check the firewall policy matching in Palo Alto?

Open the Palo Alto web browser > go to test security > policy > match from trust to untrust destination.

6. What is the zone protection profile?

If you want complete protection from attacks like floods, reconnaissance and packet-based attacks, you need to use the zone protection profile.
The flood attacks can be of SYN, ICMP and UDP types, etc.
The reconnaissance protections will help you with protection against ports and host sweeps.
The packet protection helps you against large ICMP and ICMP fragment attacks.

7. What are the types of protection used in Palo Alto?

The major types of protection used in Palo Alto are as follows:

Zone protection profile: Examples of zone protection profile are floods, reconnaissance and packet-based attacks.

Configured under Network tab protection: Examples of Network tab protection include Network profiles and zone protections.

8. What is the difference between virtual routers and virtual systems?

Virtual routers:

A virtual router is a Layer 3 routing mechanism that is packed into a firewall.
The firewall can use virtual routers to make their routes to other subnets.
You can also manually build static routes or take role in one or more Layer 3 routing protocols which are called dynamic routes.
You can also build a number of virtual routers (VR). These routers can have their own set of routes that are not shared with each other.
It allows you to configure different routing behaviors for various interfaces.
More than one VSYS can share the same VR, and multiple VSYS can have multiple VRs.

Virtual systems:

Virtual systems are special, logical firewall instances present within a single physical Palo Alto Network firewall.
A virtual system is made up of physical and logical interfaces. It is also made up of sub interfaces, viral routers and security zones including VLANs and virtual wires.
Each virtual system’s deployment mode is chosen by the user itself.
These deployment modes can be any combination of virtual wire, Layer 2 or Layer 3.
Service providers and organizations should use a single pair of firewalls and allow virtual environments to run on them.
Each virtual system behaves as its own firewall with its own security policy, interfaces and administrators.
Physical networks can be logically separated by allowing virtual systems on your firewall.

9. What is a U-turn NAT?

A U-turn NAT is simply a logical path employed in the networking system. The user should be allowed to access the internal DMZ servers with the help of this NAT profile. You must use the external IP address of the corresponding servers to access it.

10. What is WAF (Web Application Firewall)?

The Web Application Firewall (WAF) is used to keep a record of web applications and track them. It helps in improving their security and functionality. It also protects the web application by filtering traffic between the Internet and the application.

The following are the features of the Web Application Firewalls:

WAFs are designed to make up for insecure coding techniques – only enterprises who employ web apps and those who worry about the security of their code should buy a WAF.
WAFs are highly customized for each environment – check how the web application should behave and hinder if it does not.

11. What is Palo Alto’s architecture like?

Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) are made on single-pass parallel processing (SP3) architecture. This provides high-throughput, low-latency network protection and also includes cutting-edge features and technologies.

Palo Alto Networks’ SP3 architecture, which combines two contemplating components, handles the performance concerns that affect today’s security infrastructure. The components are:

Single Pass software
Parallel Processing hardware

This results in high-performance networks that have the ideal blend of raw throughput, transaction processing and network security.

12. What are the benefits of Panorama in Palo Alto?

The benefits of Panorama in Palo Alto are as follows:

The presence of deployment and a centralized configuration system.
The distributed administrations are present that allow controlled and delegated evaluation of Palo Alto firewall configurations.
It supports logging or aggregated management for reporting and analyzing with central oversight.
It allows us to view a graphical representation of the network’s apps, their users and the security implications.
It allows us to analyze, evaluate and report on network traffic, security issues and administrative changes from a centralized place.

13. What is the meaning of endpoint security?

Computing device connected to a local or Wide Area Network (WAN) is called an endpoint. The function of endpoint security is to protect endpoints from malicious software.

Some examples of endpoints are desktops, PCs, laptops, smartphones, servers and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.

Endpoint security protects endpoints from cyber threats and unauthorized activities.

14. What are the different types of linkages used to establish HA or the HA introduction?

There are four types of linkages to establish HA or HA introduction:

HA1 or control link
HA2 or Datalink
Back-up links
Packet forwarding links

15. Which virtualization platforms fully support Palo Alto network deployments?

The Palo Alto Networks VM-series virtualization platform helps Palo Alto Networks deployment in a significant way. It offers the following:

Open stack
VMware
Cisco ACI
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Google Cloud Platform
The public cloud computing environment
The private cloud computing environment

16. What is the default IP address, login, and password for Palo Alto Firewall’s administration port?

The administration port’s default IP address is 192.168.1.1 in the Palo Alto firewall. The username is “admin”. The password is “admin”.

That’s it! There are some Important Palo Alto firewall Interview Questions

These questions are basic, intermediate as well as advanced-level questions. You can go through these questions.

These questions will definitely help you in preparation of your Palo Alto interview.

Exclusive Cisco CCNP Security Syllabus: The Know It All Guide

April 12, 2023 by Surbhi

The Cisco CCNP Security course is a professional-level certification program designed to upgrade individuals with an understanding of network security at a professional level. Individuals aspiring to appear for the Cisco CCNP Security exam look for the updated CCNP Security syllabus to prepare for their success; therefore, here we are with a blog on the Cisco CCNP Security syllabus to help you clear the exam with flying colours.

Hence, keep reading the blog till the end to know the latest CCNP Security syllabus and other exam specifics in detail.

What is the Cisco CCNP Security program?

The Cisco CCNP Security program, designed by Cisco, a tech shark, is a professional-level certification program for those wishing to upscale the pre-existing CCNA knowledge into the networking domain in IT under the network security domain.

CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional): CCNP Security is for individuals who wish to become Network Engineers and earn huge in the industry by becoming an asset to IT network security.

Why choose Cisco CCNP Security certification?

One can choose the Cisco CCNP Security certification to learn networking security concepts in detail. Opting for the Cisco CCNP Security certification enables an individual to upscale in the IT networking security domain. Candidates desiring to become a Network Engineer can join the Cisco CCNP Security course at the professional level and shape their career even after graduation.

What skills can I learn with the Cisco CCNP Security course?

The skills you can learn with the Cisco CCNP Security course are as follows-

Security Concepts
Network Security
Securing the Cloud
Content Security
Endpoint Protection and Detection
Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement

What is the Cisco CCNP Security syllabus?

The Cisco CCNP Security program comprises two exams – Core and Concentration.

For the core exam, you need to clear the compulsory core exam, i.e., 350-701 SCOR and for the concentration exam, you need to choose & pass any one of the following concentration exams-

300-710 SNCF
300-715 SISE
300-720 SESA
300-725 SWSA
300-730 SVPN
300-735 SAUTO

Therefore, the latest Cisco CCNP Security syllabus is as follows-

Module 1: Adaptive Security Appliance (v9.14)

ASA Overview and History
ASA deployment
Bootstrapping and basic ASA configuration
ASA traffic flow
ASA routing
NAT
Modular Policy Framework (MPF)
Transparent firewall
QoS
ASA HA
ASA clustering
Security context

Module 2: NGFW/NGIPS – Security Firewall (v7.1)

Introduction and overview
Firepower deployment
Firepower traffic flow
Access Control Policy
Device and object management
Network discovery
Intrusion policy
NAP and pre-processors
File detection and AMP4N
SSL decryption
Identity policy
Correlation policies
Event analysis

Module 3: Cryptography Primer and VPN (IOS, ASA, Firepower and AnyConnect)

Basics of cryptography
Introduction to IPSec and PK
VPN types and modes
Site-to-Site VPNs
GETVPN
FlexVPN
SSL VPN
Clientless RA VPNs
AnyConnect VPNs
VPN load balancing and HA

Module 4: Infrastructure Security (L2/L3)

Layer 2 Threats and Mitigation
Implementing network foundation protection framework (NFP)
Understand and secure MP-CP
Secure management traffic
Secure Infra device images and config files
Securing routing protocols

Module 5: Content Security (WSA/ESA)

WSA proxy services
Integrated L4TM
User identity and authentication
Web security policies
URL filtering
Bandwidth control
AVC
SSL decryption
Outbound data security
SMTP Overview
SMTP relay
ESA packet flow
Reputation filters
AS and AV
Content filters
Outbreak filters
Content security

Module 6: Cisco Identity Services Engine (v2.7)

AAA framework overview
RADIUS and TACACS+
IEEE 802.1x
ISE introduction and overview
ISE and AD integration
MAB
Wired and wireless 802.1x
Guest access
ISE posturing
Device profiling
BYOD
TrustSec
ISE in SDA deployment

Module 7: StealthWatch (v7.4)

NetFlow and deployment scenarios
Netflow in Cisco IOS and IOS-XE
StealthWatch Management Console and Flow Collector
CTA and ETA

Module 8: Cisco AMP4E and TG (5 hours)

AMP4E introduction and overview
Licensing
AMP4E Console
Managing policies
Best practices
Malicious investigations
Introduction to Threat Grid
Cloud vs On-prem
TG File analysis
CTR and SecureX

Module 9: Cisco Umbrella (2 hours)

Why and What of DNS?
DNS Importance
Umbrella introduction
Umbrella use cases

What are the exam details of the Cisco CCNP Security course?

The exam details of the Cisco CCNP Security course are as follows-

Exam Name	Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies
Exam Format	Multiple Choice Questions
Exam Cost	USD 400
Total Questions	120 Questions
Passing Score	849 out of 1000
Exam Duration	2 Hours (120 Minutes)
Languages	English
Testing Center	Pearson Vue

Where can I get the best Cisco CCNP Security training?

You can get the best Cisco CCNP Security training at Network Kings. Now learn directly from real-time industry engineers and get 24*7 access to the world’s utmost virtual labs with zero downtime and real-world simulations at Network Kings.

Therefore, enroll today and get a demo session worth USD 55 from the industry experts and 1:1 career guidance free on the CCNP Security program.

What is the scope of the Cisco CCNP Security certification?

The scope of the Cisco CCNP Security certification is bright and promising since the domain is in high demand; there are approximately 15,000+ active job vacancies for Network Engineers with CCNP Security certification. The number of CCNP Security Network Engineers will rise at a 4x speed in the coming years.

What are the top job prospects after the Cisco CCNP Security certification?

The top job prospects after the Cisco CCNP Security certification are as follows-

Network Administrator
Network Engineer
Network Analyst
Network Support Specialist
Systems Administrator
Technical Support Engineer
Security Analyst
Network Operations Center (NOC) Engineer
IT Consultant
Wireless Network Engineer
VoIP Engineer
Cloud Network Engineer
Data Center Engineer
Cybersecurity Engineer
Network Architect
Network Security Engineer
Senior Network Engineer
Network Solutions Architect
IT Director
Network Manager

What salary packages can one expect after completing the Cisco CCNP Security training?

Wrapping Up!

The salary packages one can expect after completing the Cisco CCNP Security training in different countries are as follows-

United States: USD 85,000 – USD 140,000 per year
United Kingdom: £40,000 – £70,000 per year
Canada: CAD 75,000 – CAD 125,000 per year
Australia: AUD 92,000 – AUD 157,000 per year
Germany: €50,000 – €90,000 per year
France: €45,000 – €75,000 per year
Netherlands: €45,000 – €80,000 per year
Switzerland: CHF 100,000 – CHF 150,000 per year
United Arab Emirates: AED 180,000 – AED 280,000 per year
Singapore: SGD 60,000 – SGD 110,000 per year
India: INR 6,00,000 – INR 12,00,000 per year
Brazil: R$100,000 – R$180,000 per year
Mexico: MXN 400,000 – MXN 700,000 per year
South Africa: ZAR 500,000 – ZAR 900,000 per year
Japan: ¥8,000,000 – ¥15,000,000 per year

Hundreds of job opportunities are available on Indeed and LinkedIn in India for candidates with CCNP Security certification.

The Cisco CCNP Security program certification is the most common certification course sought by individuals aspiring to become network engineers. Hence, the blog describes all the mandatory yet crucial details regarding the Cisco CCNP Security syllabus, exam, and job opportunities.

Thus, do not hesitate to write to us if you have queries or wish to leave feedback on our blog – Exclusive Cisco CCNP Security Syllabus: The Know It All Guide, and stay tuned to read our next blog on the Cisco CCNP Security syllabus.

Happy Learning!

The Only Guide You Need to Understand Wireless Network Security

July 22, 2023April 3, 2023 by Aakriti

A Network Engineer has to deal with networking devices such as routers, switches, modems, etc. To understand them better, it is crucial to understand the concept of wireless network security. This topic is also very important from the CCNA 200-301 exam’s point of view.

Note: If you have been following up with our new CCNA series, you might have come across the wireless LANs in the computer networks guide. If you haven’t, I recommend you do so if you are new to the concept of wireless networks.

In this blog, we will go through a brief introduction to wireless network security. We will also learn various authentication methods, covering not-so-secure methods to the most secure methods in modern networks.

Let us now begin with the new concepts!

What is Meant by Wireless Network Security?

When it comes to networks, security is a very important aspect that cannot be compromised. However, it is even more important in wireless networks. Do you know why?

So, it is because the wireless signals are not present in a wire, any device that comes within the range of the signal can receive the traffic. On the other side, wired networks encrypt the traffic when sending it over an untrusted network such as the Internet.

For example, we usually don’t encrypt the wired traffic within a LAN.

However, in wireless networks, it is very important to encrypt the traffic between the wireless client and AP. This is why encryption is very important in wireless networks. Therefore, we need to cover the three most important concepts:

Authentication
Encryption
Integrity

We will learn about encryption and integrity in detail in the next blog. So, we will focus on authentication in this blog.

Introduction to Authentication from Wireless Perspective

As the traffic is sent from a wireless client to the AP, it is very important to authenticate all the clients in a particular wireless network. Therefore, authentication can be described as verifying the identity of a user or device.

Only trusted users and clients should be given access to the network, especially in a corporate setting. In the case of guest users, a separate SSID can be used to provide access to the corporate network.

The authentication process is not just limited to the AP to authenticate the clients. It is also for the clients to make sure that they do not connect with a malicious AP. A malicious AP can trick users by being an imposter and then, it can carry out attacks such as a Man-in-the-Middle attack.

There are many ways to carry out authentication. Some of them are:

Password
username/password
Digital certificates installed on the devices

What are the Various Wireless Authentication Methods?

There are over seven different methods to authenticate. These are:

Open authentication
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol)
LEAP (Lightweight EAP)
EAP-FAST (EAP Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling)
PEAP (Protected EAP)
EAP-TLS (EAP Transport Layer Security)

Let us now cover each one of them in brief.

Less Secure Methods for Authentication

1. Open Authentication

The client first sends an authentication request and the AP accepts it. No questions are asked and there is no need to enter credentials.
This is NOT a secure authentication method.
The AP accepts all authentication requests.
This method is still used today in combination with other authentication methods.
Consider connecting to Wi-Fi in a restaurant that does not require you to enter any password to connect to the Wi-Fi. However, after the connection is built, it asks the user to authenticate himself through his user id, etc.

2. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

WEP is not just an authentication method. It provides encryption as well to wireless traffic.
It uses the RC4 algorithm for encryption.
It requests the sender and receiver to use the same key. Therefore, it works on the ‘shared-key’ protocol to authenticate.
WEP keys can be 40-140 bits in length.
WEP encryption is NOT secure. It can easily be cracked.

More Secure Methods for Authentication

3. Extensible Authentication Protocol

It is an authentication framework that is used by various EAP (LEAP, EAP-FAST, PEAP, EAP-TLS) methods.
It defines a standard set of authentication functions.
It provides port-based network access control as it is integrated with 802.1X. It is used to limit network access for clients connected to LAN or WAN until they are authenticated.

4. EAP Authentication Methods Used in Wireless LANs

4. LEAP (Lightweight EAP)
It has been created by Cisco as a better version of WEP.
The clients need to provide a username and password to connect with the AP to authenticate.
Mutual authentication is provided by both the client and the server, unlike WEP where only AP sends the authentication message.
The keys used are dynamic WEP keys. Therefore, they keep changing.

5. EAP-FAST (EAP Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling)

It has also been developed by Cisco.
It consists of three phases:
- Protected Access Credential (PAC) is created and sent over to the client via the server.
- A secure TLS server is created between the user and the authentication server.
- The server and client then community further for mutual authentication in the TLS server.

6. Protected EAP

PEAP also creates a secure TLS tunnel between the client and server like EAP-FAST.
The server consists of a digital certificate instead of a PAC.
This certificate is used to certify the server by the client.

7. EAP-TLS (EAP Transport Layer Security)

EAP-TLS requires all the ASs as well as clients to have a certificate.
It is the MOST secure wireless authentication method.
It is more difficult to implement PEAP because every client device needs a certificate.
The TLS tunnel is still used to exchange encryption key information.

Conclusion

This marks the end of all the important concepts in wireless network security. We have majorly covered all the authentication methods in this blog.

In the upcoming blog, we will cover authentication and integrity. Stay tuned

Happy learning!

What is JSON and How to Interpret JSON Encoded Data?

March 30, 2023 by Aakriti

Welcome back to the CCNA series where we cover all the important topics that are asked in the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA 200-301) exam.

In the previous blog of our CCNA 200-301 series , we talked about the containers in cloud computing. I recommend you go through it before you jump to this blog.

It is time to move further in our free CCNA series to the next concepts. You are going to learn about JSON which is also known as Data Serialization Language or Data Serialization Format. This language also allows us to format or structure data in a standardized way so that it can also be used to communicate between applications. Other data serialization languages include XML and YAML.

You will also learn how to interpret JSON-encoded data. In this blog, we will cover the following important concepts:

Data serialization: What is it and why do we need it?
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): How to interpret JSON basic JSON-encoded data?

Without any further ado, let’s begin learning!

What is Data Serialization?

Data serialization refers to the process of converting data into a standardized format/structure that can be stored in a file or transmitted over a network and rebuilt later (i.e., by a different application). This standardized format makes sure that all the data sources have the same format and labels.

Why is it useful?

It allows the data to be communicated between applications in such a way that it could be understood by both applications. For example, if one application is written in PHP, and the other is written in Python, both languages store data differently. Therefore, they need a standard format to send data to each other.

The data serialization languages such as JSON allow us to represent variables with text. Firstly, you need to understand what is a variable.

Variables are containers that store values. These could be the values of “IP-address”, “status”, “netmask”, etc. For example,

“Status”: up

Here, “status” is variable, and “up” is value.

How Data is Exchanged Without Data Serialization?

Without the use of any data serialization language/format, if an app is trying to get information from an SDN controller, it sends a GET message to the controller. The server, the controller, sends those variables directly to the client without converting them to a standard format like JSON.

This way, the client doesn’t understand the received data. This is because the app and the controller are written in different languages and they store data differently. This is why they can’t communicate directly.

How Does Data Serialization by JSON Works?

Data serialization is a process that is often supported by many different languages such as Java, PHP, etc. it breaks the object (data) into different formats so that it could be understood by another application. One of the most commonly used data serialization language is JSON.

It often helps in making communication possible between a client and server. Since both of them understand different languages, JSON acts as a medium.

Whenever a client wants some information from the server, it sends a GET request to the server. The server in turn, sends it back to an API which converts internal variables into JSON format.

These JSON-formatted variables are sent to the client which is then understood by it. As required, the client can convert this data into its internal variables.

Therefore, JSON helps in converting the data into a standardized format that could be understood by any application.

What is meant by JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a human-readable text language that represents the Java arrays, lists, data, etc. It is also a standard to convert internal variables into a standardized format. It can send data to any client present over the network and it can also save files.

It uses human-friendly text to store and transmit data objects. Therefore, JSON is a data standardization language that could be understood by both humans and machines.

The following are some of the key features of JSON:

It is standardized according to the RFC 8259.
JSON has been derived from JavaScript. However, it is language-independent and many modern programming languages can create and read JSON data.
REST APIs make use of JSON. (We will learn about REST APIs in the upcoming blogs.)
Spaces and linebreaks do not matter to JSON.
There are four primitive data types in JSON:
- String: It is a text value.
- Number: It is a numeric value.
- Boolean: it is a data type that has only two possible values.
- Null: It represents the absence of any object value.
There are two structured data types in JSON:
- Object: It is an unordered list of key-value pairs, i.e., variables.
- Array: It is a series of values separated by commas. It is NOT key-value pairs.

Let us now cover the structured data types in detail!

What are JSON Structured Data Types?

It is very important to understand the structured data types of JSON to interpret the JSON formatted files. The best part about JSON is that it can be read by humans as well as machines.

As discussed earlier, there are two types of structured data in JSON. Let’s cover them one by one to understand JSON scripts in a better way.

Object:

An object is referred to as a jumbled list of key-value pairs (variables) that do not have any order.
We use curly brackets ({}) to represent objects.
The key is of a string primitive data type.
The value can contain any valid JSON data type such as string, numeric, boolean, null, object, or array.
A colon (:) is used to separate the key from the value.
In case, there are multiple key-value pairs, each pair is separated by a comma.

Example:

{

“Interface” : “GigabitEthernet1/1”,

“Is_up” : true,

“Ipaddress” : “176.134.1.2”,

“Netmask” : “255.255.255.0”,

“Speed” : 1000

}

Note: objects within objects are called ‘nested objects’.

Array:

It is a series of ‘vales’ that are separated by commas.
It is NOT a key-value pair.
The values do not have to be of the same data type.

Example:

{

“Interfaces” : [

“GigabitEthernet1/1”,

“GigabitEthernet1/2”,

“GigabitEthernet1/3”

“random _values” : [

“Hello”,

]

}

You can see that the data type of “interfaces” is different than that of the “random_values”.

I recommend you practice some questions on the Internet to interpret the JSON data. Just looking at these examples won’t help you in understanding the concept easily.

Conclusion:

In this guide, we have learned about data serialization languages such as JSON. It is critical to understand this concept if you are preparing to take the CCNA interviews and the CCNA 200-301 exam.

The second most important thing is to learn how to interpret the JSON formats. I recommend you practice more questions.

Happy learning!

BGP Interview Questions and Answers:

May 17, 2023March 25, 2023 by Aakriti

1. What is BGP in CCNA?

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the routing protocol of the Internet. Meaning it chooses the best path for communication to happen between two or more routers. Some of the distinguishing features of BGP include:

It is the biggest routing protocol in the world.
It manages the trusted and untrusted routes.
It enables routing through autonomous systems instead of routers.
It is the slowest routing protocol in the world.
It is primarily used for service providers.
It can also be used for enterprise customers.

Now that you are completely aware of BGP, we can move ahead. Also, this works as the very first interview question.

It is time to graze over some other tricky BGP interview questions and answers.

2. How does BGP work?

BGP connection between two routers is called a peering session. This simply means that the two routers have established a communication channel. This would allow the exchange of information.

Once peering occurs, here is how BGP works step by step:

It will look for routes among all the External BGP routers it has in the neighborhood.
It will also look for the Internal BGP routers it has in its own Autonomous System (AS).
After applying filters, it picks up the best path.
It installs it in the routing table (RIB).
Then, the best route is sent to the external BGP neighbors.

This further leads to several sub-processes. These are:

BGP ‘in’ Process:

It receives path information from peers.
The results of the best BGP path selection are placed in the BGP table.
The best path is then ‘flagged’.

BGP ‘out’ Process:

Share the best path information to peers.

Its very common asked question in BGP interview questions

3. What does BGP mean in networking?

BGP makes the Internet work. The Internet is nothing with BGP.

BGP allows every Autonomous System (AS) to discover routes to other ASs. It is only the responsibility of BGP to filter and change the routes. In short, BGP lets you apply a wide range of policies to control the traffic. It can change the path of traffic.

As we know, the Internet is a network of networks. If we zoom into them, networks work on BGP. That’s how important BGP is!

4. Why is BGP used?

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) works as a GPS for the packets of information. The BGP comes up with the best possible route for the packets to travel. It takes into consideration various factors, one of them being the situation of the network nodes.

BGP is designed for the following functions:

Exchange routing information
Exchange reachability information between autonomous systems on the Internet.

Each BGP speaker is called a peer, and exchanges routing information with its neighboring peers as network prefix announcements.

An Autonomous System (AS) doesn’t need to be connected to the other AS to know its network prefix.

BGP chooses the most suitable route on the basis of collected information such as an organization’s routing policy, based on cost, speed and reliability, etc.

5. Why is BGP used over OSPF?

Both BGP and OSPF are dynamic routing protocols. However, there are a few reasons why BGP is used over OSPF. These reasons are mentioned below:

OSPF is an intra-domain routing protocol and it uses link routing protocol. BGP, on the other hand, is an inter-domain routing protocol and it uses path vector routing.

OSPF is used to determine the fastest route whereas BGP tells the best path.

Now, why to use BGP over OSPF:

BGP is often used in Wide Area Network (WAN) and IaaS environments.
It is also used for Internet redundancy.
OSPF is used for Local Area Network (LAN) and data center.
BGP is primarily used in large networks.

Through the above-mentioned pointers, it can be concluded that BGP is better than OSPF.

6. Is BGP faster than OSPF?

OSPF has faster convergence time than OSPF. Network convergence is the is the speed at which a router adjusts path used to a destination network in the times of network outrage.

OSPF works better in Local Area Network (LAN) and private data centers.

7. What is the AD value of BGP?

Administrative Distance (AD) is a value that a router uses in order to choose the best path.

It helps the router to select the best path when there are two or more different routes to the same destination from two different routing protocols.
The AD value is used to rank routes from most preferred route to the least preferred route.
The most-preferred route has the lowest AD value while the least-preferred route has the highest AD value.

8. What is OSPF used for?

Open Shortest Path first (OSPF) is also a routing protocol such as BGP. It is an Interior Gateway protocol. OSPF is used for the following:

OSPF is used in large and very complex networks.
OSPF is a link state routing protocol. Thus, you can use it to converge fast.
OSPF converges faster than distance vector protocols such as BGP.
It is a routing protocol that is used to share routes between routers.
It is relatively easy to configure and is easily understood.
OSPF is used in multi-site networks.
With OSPF, you do not need to add a new route to every other site’s router. OSPF can automatically update the routing tables of various routers.

9. Do home routers use BGP?

Yes, BGP is used by routers present at our homes. BGP helps to route your e-mails and web requests across the Internet. In short, Internet routing cannot happen without BGP.

10. Why is BGP not a routing protocol?

BGP is an inter-domain routing protocol. It uses path vector routing, with the routing operations performed between two or more autonomous systems. BGP works on finding the best path possible.

11. What are LSA types?

OSPF communicates by using Link State Advertisement (LSA) to communicate for the Internet Protocol (IP). OSPF uses a Link State Database (LSDB) and it uses LSA to fill it up.

OSPF consists of many types of LSAs. There are given below:

LSA Type 1: Router LSA

In this LSA, you can find the list of all the directly connected links of this router. These types of routers always stay within the area.

LSA Type 2: Network LSA

This type of LSA is constructed for multi-access networks. Network LSAs are made by DR.

LSA Type 3: Summary LSA

The summary LSA is developed by the ABR. This is why ABR will generate a summary ASBR LSA. It will consist of the router ID of the ASBR.

LSA Type 4: Summary ASBR LSA

The summary ASBR LSA consists of the router ID of the ASBR in the link-state routing field. It makes it easy for other routers to find ASBR.

LSA Type 5: Autonomous System External LSA

These are generated by the external ASBR.

LSA Type 6: Multicast OSPF LSA

It is not used and is not supported.

LSA Type 7: Not-so-stubby area LSA

It is also referred to as not-so-stubby (NSSA) LSA. NSSAs do not allow external LSAs which are Type 5 LSA. With LSA Type 7, you can allow them.

LSA Type 8: External Attribute LSA for BGP

12. What is RIP OSPF EIGRP BGP?

RIP:

Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is a distance vector routing protocol.
It can be used to configure the hosts as a part of a RIP network.

OSPF:

OSPF is a link-state routing protocol.
It is developed for IP networks.
It is based on the Shortest Path First (SPF) algorithm.
It comes under the group of interior gateway protocols.

EIGRP:

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) is a network protocol.
It allows routers to exchange information in a better way than the network protocols that were present earlier.
It is a dynamic routing protocol used for routing and configuration decisions.

BGP:

BGP is the biggest routing protocol in the world.
It manages the trusted and untrusted routes.
It enables routing through autonomous systems instead of routers.
It is the slowest routing protocol in the world.
It is primarily used for service providers.
It can also be used for enterprise customers.

13. When should BGP not be used?

If you only want to connect to an external domain and if there is only one connection then you should not use BGP.

It’s a Wrap!

We have summed up the Cisco BGP interview questions and answers altogether. Also, the questions and answers consist of scenario-based BGP questions, BGP troubleshooting questions and BGP attribute questions and answers.

Go over all these questions and you are all set to ace your exam!

People also search for

Basic BGP interview questions
BGP interview questions and answers for beginners
BGP interview questions and answers for experienced
BGP interview questions and answers cisco
BGP attributes interview questions

What Are Containers In Cloud Computing And How Do They Work?

March 24, 2023 by Aakriti

It’s no secret that containers have taken the cloud computing world by storm. The technology has been widely adopted by enterprises of all sizes and has become the preferred way to package and deploy applications.

So, what exactly are containers and how do they work? In simple terms, a container is a self-contained unit of software that includes everything needed to run an application: the code, runtime, system tools, and libraries.

Containers are isolated from each other and can be run on any server, making them ideal for cloud computing. This blog explains everything you need to know about containers, including their benefits and how they work. You will also learn the difference between Virtual Machines and containers.

Stay tuned till the end to learn the best!

What are Containers?

Containers are software packages that contain an App along with all the other dependencies such as binaries and libraries for the contained app to run. As mentioned earlier, they are a self-contained unit of software.

Note that multiple apps can run in a single container although we do not make use of it. You can assume that one container means one app.

The following are the key features of the containers in cloud computing:

Containers run on a container engine such as Docker engine, which is the most popular one.
This container engine runs on a host Operating System such as Linux on the hardware.
Since containers are small in size, light-weight and include only the dependencies, they do not need to run an OS in each container. Virtual Machines, on the other hands, do need OSs.
The major difference between VMs and containers is that VMs run an OS in each VM, whereas containers don’t.
Due to this major difference, there is a huge difference in the costs and benefits of containers and VMs.
A software platform that automates the deployment, management and scaling, etc. of the containers is called a Container Orchestration.
For example, you must have heard about Kubernetes, which is the most popular container orchestrator. Docker also has one container orchestrator called Docker Swarm.

What’s the Need for Container Orchestrator?

In small numbers, manual operation of containers is possible. However, when it comes to large-scale systems such as involving Microservices, we may require thousands of containers. That many containers cannot be managed manually in real-time.

So, instead of one app, you might have hundreds of different microservices running together to form the larger solution.

Note: Microservices architecture is an approach to software architecture that divides a larger solution into smaller parts (microservices). These microservices run in containers that can be orchestrated by Kubernetes or another platform.

What’s the Difference between Containers and Virtual Machines?

Virtual Machines (VMs)	Containers
Each VM runs its own OS. Therefore, it can take minutes to boot up.	Containers can boot up in milliseconds.
VMs occupy more space in gigabytes in the disk.	Containers do not take much disck space. They take space in megabytes.
VMs are portable and can move between physical systems running the same hypervisor.	Containers are more portable. They are smaller in size, boot up in less time. Docker containers can be run on any container service.
VMs are separated as each VM runs its own OS.	Containers are less separated since they all run on same OS.
If one OS crashes, other VMs are not affected.	If one OS crashes, all the containers crash.

Even though there is a major shift towards the use containers especially due to adoption of automation and DevOps, VMs are still widely used today and will continue to be used.

How do Containers Work?

Containers are built using containerization engines such as Docker, Kubernetes, etc. The containerization engine is responsible for creating, deploying, and managing containers.

When a developer creates a container, it contains all the necessary components required to run the application. This invovles the application code, runtime, system tools, along with the libraries. The container runs independently of other containers on the same server or cloud provider.

Containers use a host operating system, which means that they share the same kernel as the host. This results in faster startup times and lower resource consumption. When a container is started, it runs in its own isolated environment, with access to the resources it needs to run the application. This ensures that the container does not interfere with other containers or the host system.

Benefits of Containers in Cloud Computing

1. Portability:

Containers are highly portable and can run on any server, cloud provider, or local environment without any issues.

2. Efficiency:

Containers are lightweight and consume fewer resources compared to traditional virtual machines. This makes them perfect for deploying applications at scale.

3. Isolation:

Containers are isolated from each other, which helps in avoiding conflicts between different applications.

4. Consistency:

Containers ensure that the application runs in the same environment regardless of where it is deployed. This eliminates the risk of any unexpected behavior due to environmental differences.

5. Fast deployment:

Containers enable fast deployment of applications, as they can be easily created, started, and stopped within seconds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, containers are a game-changer in the world of cloud computing. They offer numerous benefits over traditional virtual machines, including portability, efficiency, isolation, consistency, and fast deployment.

By understanding how containers in cloud computing work, developers can use this technology to build and deploy applications more efficiently. In fact, it is also helpful for Network Engineers or DevOps Engineers for automation and programmability.

Keep learning!

What is VTP in networking?

What are the techniques of VTP in networking?

What are the modes of VTP in networking?

What are the components of VTP in networking?

What are the kinds of VTP advertisements in IT?

How does VTP work?

What are the advantages of working with VTP in networking?

What are the different versions of VTP?

Wrapping Up!

FAQs:

01. What is VTP?

02. What is the best version of VTP?

03. What is the advantage of VTP in networking?

04. What are the techniques of VTP?

05. What are the modes of VTP in networking?

06. What are the components of VTP in networking?

What is OSI?

What are the layers of the OSI model?

What is TCP/IP?

What are the layers of the TCP/IP model?

Difference between OSI and TCP/IP.

Explain the similarities between OSI and TCP/IP models.

Use of OSI and TCP/IP models

Wrapping Up!

FAQs:

01. Mention the different layers of the OSI model.

02. Mention the different layers of the TCP/IP model.

03. Is the OSI model reliable?

04. Is the TCP/IP model reliable?

05. What is the advantage of OSI over TCP?

06. How are TCP and OSI similar?

What is Meant By Configuration Management Tools?

What are the Uses of the Configuration Management Tools?

Why Do We Need Configuration Management Tools?

Configuration Drift:

Configuration Provisioning:

What are the Basic Characteristics of Configuration Management Tools?

Ansible:

Puppet:

Chef:

It’s a Wrap!

What is CCNA certification?

What’s covered in the CCNA course curriculum?

What skills do you gain after the CCNA course?

Is CCNA difficult to pass? Explained

Top 3 tips to crack the CCNA exam

It’s a Wrap!

1. What are the various deployment modes in Palo Alto?

Virtual (V-Wire) Deployment option:

Layer 2 deployment option:

Layer 3 deployment option:

2. Is Palo Alto a stateful firewall?

3. What is the function of Palo Alto focus?

4. What is the Application Command Center (ACC)?

5. Which command is used to check the firewall policy matching in Palo Alto?

6. What is the zone protection profile?

7. What are the types of protection used in Palo Alto?

8. What is the difference between virtual routers and virtual systems?

9. What is a U-turn NAT?

10. What is WAF (Web Application Firewall)?

11. What is Palo Alto’s architecture like?

12. What are the benefits of Panorama in Palo Alto?

13. What is the meaning of endpoint security?

14. What are the different types of linkages used to establish HA or the HA introduction?

15. Which virtualization platforms fully support Palo Alto network deployments?

16. What is the default IP address, login, and password for Palo Alto Firewall’s administration port?

That’s it! There are some Important Palo Alto firewall Interview Questions

What is the Cisco CCNP Security program?

Why choose Cisco CCNP Security certification?

What skills can I learn with the Cisco CCNP Security course?

What is the Cisco CCNP Security syllabus?

What are the exam details of the Cisco CCNP Security course?

Where can I get the best Cisco CCNP Security training?

What is the scope of the Cisco CCNP Security certification?

What are the top job prospects after the Cisco CCNP Security certification?

What salary packages can one expect after completing the Cisco CCNP Security training?

Wrapping Up!

What is Meant by Wireless Network Security?

Introduction to Authentication from Wireless Perspective

What are the Various Wireless Authentication Methods?