Overwrite Running Config Rather Than Merge On A Cisco Router

To replace the current running configuration with a saved Cisco IOS configuration file, use the configure replace command in privileged EXEC mode.

Router#configure replace flash:test.cfg

This command will replace (NOTE: not merge) the running config with the config in file test.cfg. This command was introduced in 12.3(7)T

Here is an example of the effect:

Router#sh ip int brief

Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol

FastEthernet0/0 10.10.10.3 YES manual up up

FastEthernet0/1 10.1.1.1 YES manual up up

Serial0/3/0 unassigned YES unset administratively down down

Router#configure replace flash:test.cfg

This will apply all necessary additions and deletions

to replace the current running configuration with the

contents of the specified configuration file, which is

assumed to be a complete configuration, not a partial

configuration. Enter Y if you are sure you want to proceed. ? [no]: y

Total number of passes: 1

Rollback Done

r1#

Dec 18 00:44:05.927: Rollback:Acquired Configuration lock.

Dec 18 00:44:07.703: %PARSER-3-CONFIGNOTLOCKED: Unlock requested by process ‘3′.

Configuration not locked.

Dec 18 00:44:08.819: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed state to administratively down

r1#sh ip int brief

Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol

FastEthernet0/0 10.10.10.3 YES manual up up

FastEthernet0/1 10.1.1.1 YES manual administratively down down

Serial0/3/0 unassigned YES unset administratively down down

NOTE the following:

1) Router name has changed

2) FastEthernet 0/1 no longer has an IP address

3) FastEthernet 0/1 is shutdown

This is great as rather than just MERGING a config, the command REPLACES the config. You can replace the running-config from many places:

r1#configure replace ?

archive: URL of config file that will replace running-config

cns: URL of config file that will replace running-config

flash: URL of config file that will replace running-config

ftp: URL of config file that will replace running-config

http: URL of config file that will replace running-config

https: URL of config file that will replace running-config

null: URL of config file that will replace running-config

nvram: URL of config file that will replace running-config

pram: URL of config file that will replace running-config

rcp: URL of config file that will replace running-config

scp: URL of config file that will replace running-config

system: URL of config file that will replace running-config

tftp: URL of config file that will replace running-config

xmodem: URL of config file that will replace running-config

ymodem: URL of config file that will replace running-config

You could thus have a backup config in flash or on a TFTP server and restore immediately to running config.

David Bombal
CCIE #11023, CCSI, CCDP, CCIP, CCNP, CCSP, CCVP

David Bombal has been providing technical training and consulting for the last 7 years and has worked in the IT industry for over 10 years. He is Managing Director of Network Experts, a consulting and training company in the United Kingdom (http://www.ConfigureTerminal.com)

David passed his routing and switching exam on the first attempt putting him in the top few percent of networking engineers who accomplish this. He spends most of his time teaching and consulting on Cisco technologies with an emphasis in the last few years on VoIP technologies.

You can find out more about him and get more resources here:
http://www.ConfigureTerminal.com

2007 Job Market for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers

The 2007 job market for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers is hot, however that doesn’t mean that every single certified engineer will find the job they have been dreaming about. The reason why is that most businesses are looking for MCSE employees who also have quite a bit of experience under their belt. That is not good news for those people who have spent a lot of time and money studying for their MCSE and have passed all seven exams with flying colors but who lack the hands on experience most businesses are looking for. Nevertheless the outlook is not so bleak for these newbies. There is lots of work for individuals who have their MCSE certification with no experience. However, it might not be making the high dollars they had anticipated while in MCSE boot camp Atlanta. But, the big dollars will come for these individuals after they have some real experience and have proved that the MCSE bootcamp taught them everything they need to know.

The job market is still hot for those experienced MCSE certified engineers and will likely remain so in the future. The best way to make the most money and get the best job is to keep your MCSE certification updated. You can do this by attending MCSE bootcamps for an upgrade. This will show employers that not only do you have your certification, but you have also upgraded it to keep up with the changing technology. This means you will likely have a better paying job than you ever imagined because employers are paying high dollar for those folks that can run their system and keep their business making money.

So, it appears that while the job market is hot for experienced MCSE certified individuals it is not quite as hot for newbies recently certified although there is an awful lot of potential for these folks. The most important thing to keep in mind when looking a job is that while certification is necessary experience is also highly desirable. So, if you don’t have the experience find a way to get some by accepting a lower paying job. Then, after a couple of years your experience and MCSE certification will really help you find the job you were dreaming of when you entered MCSE boot camp.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. There is lots of work for individuals who have their MCSE certification with no experience. However, it might not be making the high dollars they had anticipated while in MCSE boot camp Atlanta. But, the big dollars will come for these individuals after they have some real experience and have proved that the MCSE bootcamp taught them everything they need to know.

Why is Boot Camp Training Popular for IT Certifications?

There are several ways to prepare for your Microsoft Certification exams and one of the preferred methods is Microsoft MCSE boot camp training. There are quite a few reasons why MCSE boot camp is so popular with Microsoft systems engineers. One of the reasons is MCSE bootcamps prepare you for many different Microsoft certification exams. This means you can accomplish a lot with just one time commitment of eight days. Experienced professionals who are already knowledgeable of Microsoft systems and platforms will find this program intensive, information filled, and very helpful. This is not for people who don’t already have significant experience or knowledge in the field because boot camps are intensive and advanced. The benefit is that you will be exposed to all the information you need to know in order to pass your IT certifications.

The Boot Camp consists of taking practice tests and going over sample questions. Students will even use the Transcender to take simulated exams. These methods help prepare you for your IT certifications, however, if you don’t pass one or more exams there is no need to worry too much. That’ s because with the MCSE boot camp Atlanta, as well as the other boot camps, you will prepare for all seven exams that are required for MCSE certification and you will also receive a voucher for each exam that allows you to retake it in case you don’t pass. That voucher is free of charge so if you don’t pass an exam you won’t be worried about the amount of money you wasted. Instead, you just use your voucher to retake the exam and receive your IT certification. Another cool thing most people don’t realize when they start studying for the exams at the MCSE boot camp is that once they pass all seven exams they will also become certified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), as well as CompTIA Security+™. All of this will look great on your resume and will more than likely help you get a raise or a new job with a higher salary.

MCSE Boot Camp is also popular because it is just an intensive week of studying and then it’s over. That’s better than taking classes every night for weeks or months or giving up Saturdays for months to prepare for your IT certifications. The boot camps also are popular because they allow MCSE certified individuals to upgrade their certification as needed.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. There are several ways to prepare for your Microsoft Certification exams and one of the preferred methods is Microsoft MCSE boot camp training. There are quite a few reasons why MCSE boot camp is so popular with Microsoft systems engineers. That’ s because with the MCSE boot camp Atlanta, as well as the other boot camps, you will prepare for all seven exams that are required for MCSE certification and you will also receive a voucher for each exam that allows you to retake it in case you don’t pass.

How to Prepare for Microsoft Certifications

Taking the Microsoft certification exams can be a very stressful event because so much is riding on passing the exams. However, there are a lot of ways to prepare for Microsoft Certifications that will help you become knowledgeable and take the exam with confidence. There are MCSE training videos, MCSE braindumps, and MCSE boot camps that are all very helpful in providing information that will help you prepare for certification. Another great way to see if the MCSE bootcamp and other preparations help you out is to simply take some practice tests. When you do you will have a good idea where you stand as far as information you know and what you need to learn. The different training videos, braindumps, and boot camps are all wonderful at preparing you to take your Microsoft Certification exams. However, if you really want to know where you stand then give the practice tests a try. You will quickly see how your studying has paid off and will be able to determine what areas you are weak in and need to study more.

Keep in mind there are Microsoft certified practice tests that you should use to help you prepare for the ultimate exam rather than just some free exams you find online. The reason why is that the Microsoft Certified Practice Test Providers cover all the necessary information and will give you a practice test that is very similar to the real certification exam. If you are investing money in your Microsoft Certification, and study guides, then go ahead and buy the Microsoft Certified practice tests to ensure you are on the right track in your studies and that you are prepared to take the final certification exam. If you rely on the results of some exams you find online for free you may be risking all of your hard work on results that are not accurate.

So, if you are trying to prepare for Microsoft Certification make sure you take a look at the MCSE training videos, the MCSE braindumps, as well as MCSE boot camps to ensure you are fully prepared. Any one of the above may prepare you for your exams, but if you take advantage of all of them you are guaranteed to be exposed to all the necessary information for your Microsoft certification exams.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Another great way to see if the MCSE bootcamp and other preparations help you out is to simply take some practice tests. So, if you are trying to prepare for Microsoft Certification make sure you take a look at the MCSE training videos, the MCSE braindumps, as well as MCSE boot camps to ensure you are fully prepared.

Training Options for MCSE Certification

Systems engineers who want a good job need to be MCSE certified if they want to work on Microsoft platforms. But, getting trained and certified is not always easy and does not always fit so well into people’s schedules. So, there are several training options for MCSE certification.

The first option is the MCSE bootcamp. MCSE boot camps are wonderful for individuals who need their certification and need it in a hurry as well as people who don’t want to spend weeks or months getting their certification but would rather focus on it intensively and then have it quickly. That’s what the boot camps are all about. In eight days you will learn all you need to know about network and system administration and will be prepared to take the exam. If you are to be successful in the MCSE bootcamp you will want to be familiar with Windows XP so that what you learn can be easily applied. Also, the more you know about Microsoft systems and networks before you take boot camp means the more you will learn. At bootcamp you will learn to install, configure, implement, manage, and maintain the necessary Microsoft systems like Microsoft XP.

If you have already gone through the MCSE training videos and the MCSE braindumps and have finished the MCSE boot camp, but are a little behind with current developments in your field, then the bootcamp upgrade is what you need.

The next option is the certification bundle. This training method allows you to choose your own track, which means you focus on the information you need to learn for your job at your own pace. This training method is online and you simply choose the information you need to learn about in your own time. As you learn you move on and when you finish up you will be prepared to take the exam. There are also options you can focus on like MCSE messaging specialization and others. The Microsoft platform includes so much information that it is helpful to specialize in something particular like messaging.

Another training option is to buy a CD ROM that has study guides, practice exams, and other similar information you help you study and learn. Going at your own pace may be the best option for you and in the end you will pass the test and become certified.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. The first training option is the MCSE bootcamp. MCSE bootcamps are wonderful for individuals who need their certification and need it in a hurry as well as people who don’t want to spend weeks or months getting their certification. If you are to be successful in the MCSE bootcamp you will want to be familiar with Windows XP so that what you learn can be easily applied.

A Brief History of MCSE Certification

The MSCE certification has been around ever since certification for systems engineers was an option. However, it has changed over the years and today MSCE certification is incredibly important in the computing field. Especially for those individuals who want to be paid well for their expertise in Microsoft systems. Individuals who are certified show that they know how to do the job and employers feel more comfortable with certified individuals working on their systems. Of course, those who have a lot of experience working with Microsoft systems may outweigh a newly certified individual simply because experience carries a whole lot of weight. Those individuals who are experienced Microsoft systems engineers and who are also MCSE certified will find they have the most job opportunities.

As computers went from cutting edge technology to the way a business functions on a daily basis a lot of things became necessary. One of these was a way to differentiate between the systems engineers who claimed they knew how to manage systems and those who were really qualified to do so. As a result Microsoft developed a certification system that is made up of exams that test on the most important information systems engineers should know about the Microsoft platforms and servers. Individuals take a course, or go through MCSE boot camp, and then they are ready to take the test to become MCSE certified. The benefit of MCSE boot camps is they are quick, although heavily condensed, and area a great way for experienced Microsoft systems engineers to receive their certification. Microsoft MCSE boot camp training has not been around since the inception of the certification process, but it has become very popular since it fits into people’s schedules so well.

Individuals who take the MCSE certification course will prove to prospective employers that they are experts on this particular platform and can implement, design, and do whatever is necessary for the business to succeed. Those who do this type of work no matter how great they are and how much they can do with Microsoft systems must become certified to prove to the world they know what they are doing. The MCSE certification proves they are knowledgeable and capable of doing what needs to be done for the business to succeed. In the overall scheme of things the certification system is rather new, but it has been around enough years to be necessary for systems engineers to have so they can get a good job.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Individuals take a course, or go through MCSE boot camp, and then they are ready to take the test to become MCSE certified. The benefit of MCSE boot camps is they are quick, although heavily condensed, and area a great way for experienced Microsoft systems engineers to receive their certification. Microsoft MCSE boot camp training has not been around since the inception of the certification process, but it has become very popular since it fits into people’s schedules so well.

Getting Your MCSE Certification - The Difference Between Real Boot Camps and Cheat Camps

A technical training school that provides accelerated instruction leading to MCSE certification is typically referred to as an MCSE boot camp. From my experience, having taught boot camps for five years, the name is fitting. It is an experience that can make or break you. It is at times painful, and at times one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable. And when I say rewarding, the last thing that comes to mind is the four-letter title at the end of your name when you pass all of the MCSE certification exams. The reward from an MCSE boot camp is in what you learn, how you learn it, and how the overall experience affects your life.

Involvement in an MCSE boot camp is an immersion experience. Students seeking MCSE certification are dunked –head first– into the technology, and learn to swim in the binary waters with an urgency born out of a will to survive. They develop buddies quickly, and learn to trust the instructor who has charted the waters before. And the students develop greater self-respect, as they tackle a mountain of knowledge and put it to task.

This type of learning is the right way to achieve MCSE certification for folks who have experience in the IT industry and those with sufficient preparation. But, it is not for everyone. Boot camps that accept newbies should be avoided at all costs. These camps are most likely cheat camps masquerading as authentic training solutions.

A real MCSE boot camp only accepts qualified students. At least one year of experience in the networking field, managing users and dataflow, is an acceptable standard. Sales people at a real MCSE boot camp are required to turn down job-changers and folks that are not adequately prepared. Those same unprepared students, however, are accepted readily at the cheat camps; since they are merely learning to memorize answers to questions on the MCSE certification exams, actually learning the material in an enduring manner is not required.

A true MCSE boot camp requires highly customized training materials. Be wary of schools that solely use a vendor’s official curriculum or some bookstore purchased self-paced training materials for MCSE certification. These both provide excellent instructional support in the right environment, but they are incompatible with an accelerated boot camp experience. Typically schools that rely on these for their class materials are doing so because they never bothered to improve their MCSE certification materials, and probably use web-found “MCSE braindumps” for the classes, focusing on helping you read the brain dumps rather than developing real skills. Real boot camps use highly customized materials that teach key concepts and skills with exam objectives in mind. The best MCSE boot camp makes its own materials, improving them based on appropriate feedback.

What cheat camps do, unfortunately, is rely on MCSE braindumps as their main materials. Their instructors, in direct violation of their non-disclosure agreement, are given the task of interpreting MCSE braindumps for their students. Some of these camps purchase braindumps from companies that steal questions from the actual MCSE certification exams, providing their best guesses on the answers. In such a situation, students learn how to beat–and at the same time undermine–the system that feeds them. Such camps deprive their students from acquiring a real learning experience, and denigrate the value of the MCSE certification itself. And, while students may achieve MCSE certification during a cheat camp experience, they lose their self-respect and the opportunity to prove to themselves that they have what it takes to get certified in a legitimate manner.

Lastly, coming to a real MCSE boot camp can require real preparation. For candidates that are already immersed in the technology, and those that are exceptional students and test-takers, it is quite possible to come to a MCSE boot camp and proudly walk out with MSCE certification with little or no preparation. But for most that are planning on attending accelerated training, some pre-training is essential. A real MCSE boot camp provides materials, practice tests, and guidelines for study to be completed before coming to class. They provide their students with contact to instructors before they attend class, to ensure that they are on target with their preparation.

Do yourself a favor: make sure that the camp you choose for your MCSE certification provides a real learning experience. Use the following tips when comparing boot camps to ensure that you are not going to pay for something that you might later regret.

Tips for Determining if a MCSE Boot Camp is Legitimate:

  1. Look for real, verifiable references from past students, and ask those references about how the class was taught.

  2. Inquire about details on what type of curriculum and materials are used in class.

  3. Ask if the instructors are MCSEs, and what the average years of experience are.

  4. Find out what type of pre-training is provided. Can students get in touch with an instructor for advice prior to coming to class?

  5. Ask if the MCSE boot camp accepts people with minimal experience and how much experience is required to attend.

  6. Find out what the company’s philosophy is concerning MCSE braindumps. Do they use a third-party product that claims to have actual MCSE certification exam questions?

  7. Ask if the company develops its own accelerated materials or if it relies on some package intended for self-study or prolonged training.

About the Author

Barry Kaufman, MCSE, CISSP, CEH, MS in Education, is the founder and director of training services of IntenseSchool, which was recently acquired by the security services firm, Vigilar. Barry has worked as a network consultant, trainer, and manager since NT 3.51 and Netware 2.0. He honestly believes that things have gotten better, even if it hasn’t cut down on his workload in the least. He can be reached at bkaufman~at~vigilar.com. For more information about MCSE certification, please visit http://www.vigilar.com.

Cisco CCNP BSCI 642-901 Exam - OSPF And Passive Interfaces

Your BSCI exam may well be the most challenging of the four exams you must pass to become a CCNP, so you have to have the details of every protocol on the exam mastered! Today, we’ll look at the passive-interface command as it relates to OSPF.

Passive interfaces accept routing updates, but do not send them. Regarding OSPF, even though OSPF does not sent “routing updates” in the form that RIP, IGRP, and EIGRP do, you can still configure an OSPF-enabled interface as passive in order to prevent OSPF traffic from exiting that interface. No OSPF adjacency can be formed if one of the interfaces involved is a passive interface, and if you configure an OSPF-enabled interface as passive where an adjacency already exists, the adjacency will drop almost immediately.

In the following example, R1 and R2 have an existing OSPF adjacency over their Ethernet interfaces. In an effort to reduce routing traffic, R1’s e0 interface is configured as passive. The adjacency drops right away.

R1(config)#router ospf 1

R1(config-router)#passive-interface ethernet0

18:31:11: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 2.2.2.2 on Ethernet0 from FULL to DOWN, Neighbor Down: Interface down or detached

That’s a pretty important detail to keep in mind when you’re using the passive-interface command, wouldn’t you say?

You may well have a router that you want to configure most interfaces as passive. There’s no longer a need to configure each interface as passive in that case - As of IOS version 12.0, you can now set all interfaces on a router as passive for a given protocol with the passive-interface default command. You can then configure each interface that you do NOT want to be passive with the “no passive-interface” command.

R3(config)#router ospf 1

R3(config-router)#passive-interface default

To set the interfaces back to their default, just use the no passive-interface default command.

R3(config-router)#no passive-interface default

The passive interface is a simple topic, but it can get a little tricky when you start changing the default and then start configuring interfaces on an individual level. Just be careful with this command on exam day and in the real world, and you’ll succeed in the BSCI exam room and on real-world networks as well!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNP exam and CCNA Certification tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and “How To Pass The CCNP”, just visit the website! You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day!

Get your Microsoft Vista certification with The Bryant Advantage!

How To Prepare For MCSE Certification

It’s widely known that jobs regarding Information Technology (IT) are a popular choice both among college students and people looking to switch careers, because of the availability of jobs in this field and the technology hype of today’s age. However, many employers are looking for certain program certifications in the applicant’s resume become looking further for an interview. One such certification is the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCF), which includes six different types of specific certification like technology specialist, professional, IT professional, systems administrator, database administrator, and engineer. One who is interested in getting certified for any of them must go through IT training first and then take a vigorous qualification test.

One of the most popular tests among the six is the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) test. Some call it the best known and most useful test, and various preparations are needed if you’re interested in taking it. It’s so vigorous that the company created a MCSE boot camp a few years ago, and now many more companies have followed suit and have their own intensive MCSE boot camps as well. You can find many of them as both online and in-person training, and the fee is around $4000-$6000 for two week courses. Many employers will cover the cost of this class if you stay with the company for a while after you improve yourself. If you want a less structured and less expensive method preparing for the MCSE test, computer training videos are another great way to do it. They usually cost less than $1000 for a set of CDs and books and you can watch them whenever you have the time. This way is perfect for anyone who already has a job and can not afford to take time off that job to train for another career.

The MCSE test itself is split into two types: Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. Each of the two types requires different tests, and it’s either 5 or 6 tests. Usually, the tests consist of multiple choice questions and solution building questions.

Regardless which method of preparing for the MCSE exam you choose, either the Microsoft certification boot camp or by videos, both have proven to be successful if the participants pay attention and study hard. It’s important to choose by the amount you can afford to spend, how much free time you have to do it, and which method you generally prefer. After doing the research, better pick what the best way is for you and get started!

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. It’s so vigorous that the company created a href="http://www.cbtplanet.com/microsoft-certification-boot-camps.htm">MCSE boot camp a few years ago, and now many more companies have followed suit and have their own intensive MCSE boot camps as well. Regardless which method of preparing for the MCSE exam you choose, either the href="http://www.cbtplanet.com/microsoft-certification-boot-camps.htm">Microsoft certification boot camp or by videos, both have proven to be successful if the participants pay attention and study hard.

Important Computer Certifications For Computer Technicians

After deciding on the career of a computer technician, there are a few things that people need to take care of in order to jump start their careers. There is a lot of computer based training that could help people improve their experience and their skill. There are several key certifications that are must haves when you decide to become a computer technician, including Cisco certifications, which are highly respected, Microsoft or MCSE certifications, and A+ certification.

Getting these certifications is a great asset because you will receive industry recognition for the knowledge and proficiency level that you are currently at without question. A MCSE certification means that you know the ins and outs of the most difficult Windows operating system and the Microsoft Windows Server system. It will also give you access to technical and product information that may be valuable for solving problems on the fly at work. While this may not be as important, Microsoft will also offer you discounts on many products and systems from different companies. In order to obtain a MCSE certification, a person must have at least one year of experience working with networking systems along with at least one year of implementing and administering a desktop operating system and designing a network infrastructure. When trying for this certification, it might be a wise choice to take one of the MCSE boot camps that are offered online. These courses are rigorous and expensive, but are usually worth the time and money.

The A+ certification is also a valuable asset to your career. This certification will give you international, vendor free recognition for being able to perform tasks such as installation, configuration, diagnosing, preventive maintenance and basic networking. The exams also cover domains such as security, safety and environmental issues, communication, and professionalism. There are two exams to pass for the first A+ certification each consisting of 90 to 100 questions and ninety minutes to complete each section and you need 700 points out of 900 in order to pass. Just getting this certification will guarantee a person around $31,000 a year, more after some experience. For help obtaining an A+ certification, a person can take A+ boot camps to boost your knowledge before taking the exam.

These two computer certifications will be invaluable to computer technicians, as well as network professionals. Getting these certifications will increase a person’s skills and greatly increasing chances of obtaining promotions.

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. When trying for this certification, it might be a wise choice to take one of the href="http://www.cbtplanet.com/microsoft-certification-boot-camps.htm">MCSE boot camps that are offered online. These courses are rigorous and expensive, but are usually worth the time and money. For help obtaining an A+ certification, a person can take href="http://www.cbtplanet.com/comptia/aplus-boot-camp-classes.htm">A+ boot camps to boost your knowledge before taking the exam.