Part 1. Network services

Part 1 covers a range of essential network services that play pivotal roles in the operation and management of modern networks. We start with Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) and Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) in chapter 1, protocols that enable you to discover how devices are connected to each other, playing a critical role in troubleshooting and network documentation. Chapter 2 introduces Network Time Protocol (NTP), a crucial service for synchronizing the clocks of network devices, ensuring accurate time-stamping for logging, security, and other time-sensitive operations.

Chapter 3 covers the Domain Name System (DNS)—a cornerstone of the internet that translates domain names into IP addresses. Any time you type a URL like youtube.com to access a website, you can thank DNS for translating that name to the correct IP address. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)—the topic of chapter 4—simplifies IP address management by automating the assignment process. In chapter 5, we move on to Secure Shell, which provides a secure, encrypted method for remotely accessing the CLI of network devices to configure and manage them.