My goal in writing the second edition of Network Warrior was to make the new book even better than the first edition. I wanted to include as much new stuff as possible, but I also wanted to refine the original material to make it more current and accurate. I didn’t remove much information, except to replace it with newer or better examples.
What’s new in the second edition of Network Warrior? Here’s a bulleted list:
- Almost every chapter has updated examples. Where applicable, there are now examples from CatOS, IOS and NX-OS based switches.
- Most of the examples that used Catalyst 3550 switches in the first edition have been updated with output from 3750s
- Examples that used older interfaces like 10Mbps Ethernet have been updated to show Gigabit interfaces on modern devices
- Chapters that used PIX firewalls have been updated to show examples from ASA appliances
- The Cisco PIX chapter had been replaced with a Cisco ASA chapter. New features such as firewall contexts and active-active standby are covered as well
- New technology is included. For example the chapter on Etherchannel (now called Link Aggregation) includes explanations and examples for MultiChassis Etherchannel (MEC) and Virtual Port-Channels (vPC)
- Most references to Solaris have been replaced or removed
- The Catalyst 6500 chapter has been expanded to include VSS and MEC
- There is a new chapter covering Cisco Nexus switches. This chapter covers features, hardware information, new technology and NX-OS configuration examples from both Nexus 5000s and 7000s
- There is a new chapter on VoIP which walks the reader though designing and building a SOHO telephony system using a Cisco 2811 router, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (CUCME), Cisco IP Phones and Cisco Unity Express (Detailed CUE configuration is not covered). Both H323 and SIP examples are included
- There is a new chapter showing how to design and configure a single Cisco Wireless Access Point (WAP) for a SOHO environment
- There is a new chapter on the basics of IPv6, complete with useful examples
- There is a new chapter showing how third-party MPLS is configured
In addition to the new material, all known errata from the first edition has been resolved. Naturally, I’ve included even more anecdotes from my experience in the field — especially the ones where I’ve made horrible mistakes so you don’t have to.
This will likely be the last edition to include CatOS examples. While I still see CatOS in the field as recently as 2011, the frequency in which CatOS appears in the wild does not merit its inclusion in future editions. I’d love to keep CatOS examples in the book forever, but the second edition of Network Warrior is almost 750 pages in length, and that’s getting too large. Rest assured that previous editions will still be available online through Safari: Safari.com.
Look for the 2nd edition of Network Warrior to be available in the US in May, 2011. You can pre-order it from Amazon here: Amazon.com
The official O’Reilly page for Network Warrior, Second Edition can be found here: Oreilly.com/
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Dear Mr.Donahue,
I’ve just ordered your book,and while waiting for it went through the First Book edition sample chapters.
Something tells me that your blog is not such a good place to write the following,but I didn’t find a better one.I would like to citate a paragraph I came against after some reading :
“Many people mistakenly think that broadcasts are contained within
switches or virtual LANs (VLANs). I think this is due to the fact that
they are so containedin a properly designednetwork. If you connect
two switches with a crossover cable—one configuredwith VLAN 10
on all ports, andthe other configuredwith VLAN 20 on all ports—
hosts pluggedinto each switch will be able to communicate if they are
on the same IP network. Broadcasts and IP networks are not limited to
VLANs, though it is very tempting to think so.”
Reading that on some on-line forum,I would not even comment it, waisting my(and maybe yours,if you will ever read it) time.However, the cognitive dissonance after reading it + a lot of recommendations about your book, is so strong,that I really have to try and comment,hoping for your reaction.
Talking about dissonance – I have a few years experience in the netwroking field,and encountered many “networking ” books.Some where bad,and some where good,but I can not remember a book that praised as “good” all over internet,to start with so…let’s call it “confusing”, statement.
Reading it’s like 20 times over and over,I must admit that your statement is correct of course,but it’s correct in so ambiguous way,that I guess that most of those who are to networking will understand it in a wrong way.In the real world broadcasts and IP networks of course COULD be designed to be limited to VLANs,and could be designed the other way arround.
Did I mention the word “confusing”?
Hope you will take into consideration my(googling for it you will find some additional happy readers wondering about the statement) remark in the book next editions,
And thank you for taking your time reading it,
Alex Usvatzov
Holon,IL
Thanks for your input.
You’re right, that paragraph is a bit hard to read. I’ll make a note of it and see if I can clean it up a bit in the third edition.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
GAD
One of the very best real world networking book I have read. thanks for such a wonderful book
how about a future book project you do a “Network Warrior 2, Design: ccda for the real-word”
cheers!
Hi Gary,
Was hoping to purchase your 3rd edition, any idea on a release date?
Thanks.
Third edition? I just finished the 2nd edition! 🙂
It was about 4 years between the first and second edition, so it would probably be about the same for the 3rd. Figure around 2015 for a release date, assuming O’Reilly buys into the idea.
Thanks for the comments!
Gary
You’ve written an excellent book for the CCNA – thank you. I’m going to use it as the main course book for a college course. Do you have slides (powerpoint) for your 2nd edition ?
Hi Gary,
I recently bought your book and it’s amazing.. Please include ASR, SUP2T too in your 3rd Edition….
It’s been a few years, so, can we expect a third edition soon?
Hi Gary,
Like a few others, I was wondering about the likelihood of a 3rd edition. I just discovered your book today when doing some research. I don’t mind buying the 2nd edition but if a 3rd edition is forthcoming, I would like to hold off until its release.
Thank you kindly in advance,
Benny
There is not a 3rd edition in the works at this time (June 2017)
Hi there,
Okay, thank you. I will subscribe to your blog and be on the lookout for future announcements. I am going to order the 2nd edition. I like the idea of physical books but was wondering if the physical book comes with a download so I can read the e-version in bed.
Thank you,
Benny
I don’t believe so.
Thank you very much. 🙂 Found out you can get digital for $5.00 when you register the physical copy. It should be here Thursday. Thank you again and all the best.
Hi Gary!
Any chance of getting a 3rd edition of your Network Warrior in the foreseeable future?
Arista Warrior, 2nd Edition is here
Thanks in advance,
Ildar
I’ve talked about it with O’Reilly but nothing is planned at this time.
Has it moved on since then? The book is over ten years old and it would be great to see it updated.