I like this book. The reason I like it is that it fills a gap if you are studying for the CCNP. The Cisco Press CCNP books are good, but they are a bit dry, and are more about the configs and passing the exam. This book has that plus more of the theory behind the protocols and some of the issues with each protocol. The writing style is informal so it feels like he is talking to you rather than just issuing instructions.

This book provides an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to understand how routing protocols work in depth.

I liked the approach of explaining the why behind the how, and the fact that it's not focused on passing a certification exam, but rather giving the tools to configure and troubleshoot routing in simple and not-so-simple networking systems.



The tables with the characteristics of each routing protocol are not only a good way to explain and summarize the concepts, but they are also a good reference for further consultation of the book.

The examples are complete and clearly described, giving a real life consistency to the theory described.



A consistent portion of the book is dedicated to the OSPF protocol. Here Macfarlane does a great job in not only clearly explaining the characteristic of OSPF, and how it works, but he also provides tips on how to design networks using OSPF, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.



One can tell that the core of the book was born in a classroom, in front of students who could ask questions and give feedback, therefore improving its clearness and completeness. The book has a didactic spin that is missing from other networking books.

This is so much more than just a routing protocols manual: it's a textbook.

This book provides an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to understand how routing protocols work in depth.
I liked the approach of explaining the why behind the how, and the fact that it's not focused on passing a certification exam, but rather giving the tools to configure and troubleshoot routing in simple and not-so-simple networking systems.

The tables with the characteristics of each routing protocol are not only a good way to explain and summarize the concepts, but they are also a good reference for further consultation of the book.
The examples are complete and clearly described, giving a real life consistency to the theory described.

A consistent portion of the book is dedicated to the OSPF protocol. Here Macfarlane does a great job in not only clearly explaining the characteristic of OSPF, and how it works, but he also provides tips on how to design networks using OSPF, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

One can tell that the core of the book was born in a classroom, in front of students who could ask questions and give feedback, therefore improving its clearness and completeness. The book has a didactic spin that is missing from other networking books.
This is so much more than just a routing protocols manual: it's a textbook.

NETWORK ROUTING BASICS: Understanding IP Routing in Cisco Systems, by James Macfarlane, is worthy of consideration if you're interested in learning from someone who knows how to TEACH routing. Macfarlane's approach, humor, sidebars, and up-to-date information make this book a cut above others I've read and reviewed. After "Networking Overview" and "Routing Basic" chapters (One and Two), the reader will have to slow down a bit to absorb "Static Routing" and especially "Dynamic Routing" (Three and Four). The middle part of the book (Five through Eight) focuses on routing protocols: RIP, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF; the last two chapters are helpful as introductions to "External Routing Protocols" (Nine) and "Redistribution and Default Routing" (Ten). This layout serves the goals of the author well and seven appendices provide a set of welcome supplements. While this book may indirectly assist in CCNA certification, I would only refer to it after consulting a book designed directly for that goal.