Update About Cine Core Movie Theatre Series of Posts...

Second Installment About Cine Core Movie Theatre

Last week, I started on the second installment about seeing movies at the Cine Core Movie Theatre in Seoul, South Korea.

I am currently writing the initial draft of the post on Google Docs.

Thus far, my initial draft is two and a half pages long.

I am anticipating that the post will be much longer.

Of course, I won't forget to add movie posters, still photos, and a couple of videos about the second movie I saw at the Cine Core Movie Theatre.

Sure, the post could be shorter in length; however, once I start to write, the memories just start flooding back.

In fact, the whole point of the exercise is to write these memories on my blog for other people to read.

If people respond positively to my posts, then that's great.

If I don't get any reactions, then that's great too.

I just want to show that I was actually at an event.

What movie will I be writing about? Well, that will be a surprise.

I won't tell.

New Classes at REI...

A few days ago, I signed up for two classes over at REI's Paradise Valley store in Phoenix, AZ.

The two classes I signed up for were:

• Camping Basics Presentation
• Backpacking Basics Presentation

This is how REI describes the Camping Basics Presentation:

Learn the basics of camping! Whether you're planning to go solo or with friends and family, we'll cover everything you need to know and bring to ensure your next camping trip is a successful one. We'll talk trip planning, how to be comfortable sleeping outside, camping kitchen considerations, and more. Camping is a fun and affordable way to take a vacation - let REI help you get outdoors!

The Camping Basics Presentation is scheduled for this Thursday, June 20, 2024.

This is how REI describes the Backpacking Basics Presentation presentation:

Learn the basics of backpacking and head into the backcountry to discover new places. Whether you are a seasoned hiker who wants to extend your hikes across multiple days, or if you are new to the outdoors, this presentation will give you the essential information you need to put together a great plan. From trip planning to essential backpacking gear, we will provide tips and answer questions to help inspire your next trip.

Going out backpacking and/or camping by myself is definitely something worth further investigating. However, let's face it, you can spend A LOT of money on gear. On the other hand, REI does give its members an end-of-year dividend based on the amount of money you spend at REI each year.

Perhaps I can meet other people who are interested in doing the same activities.

Chances of that occurring are slim, but you never know.

Cisco Switches and Routers

Cisco Switches and Routers

For the past week, I have been working on "Module 6: Cisco Switches and Routers" in the Network Addresssing and Basic Troubleshooting online course from Cisco Networking Academy.

Module 6: Cisco Switches and Routers

The first half of the module covers Cisco switches.

Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switch

The second half of the module covers Cisco routers.

Cisco 4300 Series Routers

Section 6.1 Cisco Switches

Section 6.1 Cisco Switches

As routers and switches evolve, the distinction between them may seem to blur. The main difference between routers and switches:  

• LAN switches provide connectivity within the local-area networks of the organization.
• Routers interconnect local networks and are needed in a wide area network (WAN) environment.
• Definition: A switch is used to connect devices on the same network.
• Definition: A router is used to connect multiple networks to each other.

Other connectivity options for LANs include include the following:

• Wireless access points (WAPs) deployed in enterprises enable computers and other devices, such as IP phones, to wirelessly connect to the network, or share broadband connectivity.
• Firewalls guard against network threats and provide security, network control, and containment.

Key Point: When a LAN network grows to the point where the four Ethernet ports provided by the wireless router are not enough for all of the devices that need to attach to the wired network, it is time to add a LAN switch to the network.

A switch can provide connectivity at the access layer of a network, connecting devices to a LAN.

A switch can allow the network to grow without replacing central devices.

Factors to consider when choosing a switch to use for an enterprise network include:

• Type of ports
• When selecting a switch for your LAN, choosing the appropriate number and type of ports is critical.
• Most lower-cost switches support only copper twisted-pair interface ports.
• Higher priced switches may have fiber-optic connections.
• These are used to link the switch to other switches that may be located over long distances.
• Speed required
• Ethernet twisted-pair interfaces on a switch have defined speeds.
• A 10/100 Ethernet port can only function at either 10 megabits per second (Mbps), or at 100 Mbps.
• What this means is that even if the device that you are connecting to the 10/100 switch interface port is capable of connecting at gigabit speeds, the maximum speed at which it will be able to communicate will be 100 Mbps.
• Switches may also include gigabit Ethernet ports.
• If your internet connection is more than 100 Mbps, then a gigabit port is necessary to take advantage of the higher internet bandwidth.
• Gigabit Ethernet ports will also operate at 10/100 Mbps.
• Gigabit Ethernet is sometimes represented as 1000 Mbps.
• Example: The Cisco Catalyst 9300 48S switch has two 40 Gbps uplink ports to provide a fast path for the 48 ports to access the rest of the network and the internet.
• Similar to a switch port, Ethernet NICs operate at specific bandwidths such as 10/100 or 10/100/1000 Mbps.
• Key Point: The actual bandwidth of the attached device will be the highest common bandwidth between the NIC on the device and the switch port.
• Expandability
• Networking devices come in both fixed and modular physical configurations.
• Fixed configurations have a specific type and number of ports or interfaces.
• Modular devices have expansion slots that provide the flexibility to add new modules as required.
• Example: The Cisco Catalyst 9600 chassis in which you can install different configurations of hardware to address your particular environment.
• Manageability
• Many basic, inexpensive switches are not configurable.
• A managed switch that uses a Cisco operating system enables control over individual ports or over the switch as a whole.
• Controls include the ability to change the settings for a device, add port security, and monitor performance.
• Network administrators directly connect to a Cisco Catalyst switch using a console cable.

In addition to switches and routers, there are other connectivity options available for LANs. They include:

• Wireless Access Points (WAPs) that are deployed in enterprises enable computers and other devices, such as IP phones, to wirelessly connect to the network or share broadband connectivity.
• Firewalls guard against network threats and provide the following:
• Security
• Network control
• Containment

Section 6.2 Switch Speeds and Forwarding Methods

Section 6.2 Switch Speeds and Forwarding Methods

Section 6.3 Switch Booting Process

Section 6.3 Switch Booting Process

Section 6.4 Cisco Routers

Section 6.4 Cisco Routers

Section 6.5 Router Boot Process

Section 6.5 Router Boot Process

I am not too pleased with how this post turned out.

I will have to re-write it.

Sorry about that.

Lack of New Posts...

No New Posts...

Yes, I know that there haven't been very many blog posts for the past week or so.

As per usual, I got distracted with doing other things.

Plus, I got somewhat carried away with writing and revising this post and this post.

I also got lost in the labrynth that is my Twitter/X feed. Way too many distractions.

As a result, I still have a backlog of blog posts that I need to write for my blog.

• Posts about hiking trips in the Phoenix, AZ area over the past several months.
• Additional posts for my series about seeing movies at the Cine Core Movie Theatre in Seoul, South Korea.
• A lengthy post about the films of Japanese film director Shunji Iwai.
• Another lengthy post about a CD made by a friend that I am no longer able to find.
• Posts about various IT subjects as I work my way through online courses from the Cisco Networking Academy.

Of course, that's just a list right off the top of my head.

I have a list of future blog posts somewhere in my Bullet Journal.

I would also like to add some HTML razzledazzle to my future blog posts as well.

Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day.

I will notify my Facebook feed as the posts are published to my blog.

Starting Module 6: Cisco Switches and Routers...

Starting New Module

Yesterday, I FINALLY made through both modules for IPv6 addressing in the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting online class from the Cisco Networking Academy.

On my first attempt on the mini-exam for IPv6 addressing, I scored an 80%. I passed the mini-exam, but I was disappointed. After reviewing the results, I retook the mini-exam for IPv6 addressing and then scored a 100%. That was a better result.

Now, I am on to "Module 6: Cisco Switches and Routers".

Module 6: Cisco Switches and Routers

More to follow.

Making and Testing My Own Ethernet Cables (UPDATED)...

Making and Testing my Own Ethernet Cables

Previously on my blog, I have written a couple of posts about making my own Ethernet cables. To get caught up, you can read here, here, and here.

Recently, I bought a LAN Explorer Cable Tester with Remote made by Klein Tools at a Home Depot in Peoria, AZ. After already buying 100 feet of CAT 5e Ethernet cable, a box of RJ-45 connectors, and a Ratcheting Modular Crimper/Stripper/Cutter, also made by Klein Tools. Buying the cable tester was the final piece of the puzzle for making my own Ethernet cables.

LAN Explorer Cable Tester by Klein Tools

Making Straight-Through and Crossover Cables

I made two different types of Ethernet cable. I made a straight-through cable and a crossover cable. Unfortunately, I didn't label or mark either cable.

The first step I did was cut a three-foot length of Ethernet cable, using the cutter feature of the Ratcheting Modular Crimper/Stripper/Cutter.

Step #1: Cutting a length of Cat 5e Ethernet cable

The second step I did was strip approximately 2 inches of the outer gray jacket from the Ethernet cable, using the stripper feature of the Ratcheting Modular Crimper/Stripper/Cutter.

Step #2: Stripping two inches from the outer jacket

For the third step, I then separated the cables by color (green with green-white, orange with orange-white, blue with blue-white, and brown with brown-white). I then unwrapped the cables and attempted to smooth them out.

Step #3: Separating the cables by color

I then aligned the cables by color, following the cabling pinout standards for T-568A (straight-through) and T-568B (crossover) for both ends of the Ethernet cable.

T-568A and T-568B Pinouts

Putting the cables into the correct order

For the fourth step, it can be really difficult to keep the cables in the correct order. The cables will want to move out of order no matter how flat you make them. Once I had the cables in the correct order, either T-568A or T-568B, then trimmed the cables down to approximately one-half inch in length.

Step #4: Trimming the cables

For the fifth step, you will then want to insert the cables into an RJ-45 connector. After you insert the cables into the RJ-45 connector, you want to make sure that the cables touch the correct contact. You might also have to trim the cables to the correct length. Lastly, make sure that the cables are of a length so that the grey outer layer of the cable goes into the RJ-45 connector.

The sixth step involves inserting the RJ-45 connector into the crimper feature of the Ratcheting Modular Crimper/Stripper/Cutter. Once you do that, you are then ready to squeeze down on the RJ-45 connector. Don't squeeze too hard, however. You will have a difficult time releasing the crimper. You can then remove the RJ-45 connector from the crimper. You have now created an Ethernet cable to either the T-568A or T-568B cabling standard.

Step #6: Crimping the Ethernet cable

Using the Cable Tester

Now, you can use the cable tester to check you work.

Let's see how my Ethernet cables turned out.

I then connected both ends of the Ethernet cable to the RJ-45 jacks on the cable tester. I then pressed the Test button on the cable tester.

For the first Ethernet cable that I tested, I received an OPEN fault indicator. According to the product literature, an OPEN fault indicator will illuminate "if one or more of the conductor wires on the near end are not terminated properly on the far end, or if any of the near-end contact pins are not properly terminated".

Cable Tester Result: OPEN Fault

For the second Ethernet cable that I created, I received a different result from the cable tester. This time, the RJ-45 light under PASS illuminated. In addition, under Fault, I received a MISWIRE fault indicator light. According to the product literature, the MISWIRE light will illuminate "if the cable is not wired to one of the cabling standards or if the conductor wire order on the near end do not match the conductor wire order on the opposite end", e.g., Pin 1 on the near end is wired to Pin 2 on the far end.

Cable Tester Result: RJ-45 PASS, MISWIRE Fault

In Conclusion

While the results from the cable tester are disappointing, the results were expected. Like anything else, making your own Ethernet cables takes practice to get it right. Is it important to know how to make your own Ethernet cables? Of course, it is. You just might find yourself in a situation where you are out of Ethernet cables of a certain length, so you need to make your own. Of course, you might have to make your own Ethernet cable due to an emergency. However, according to recent online networking course I took at the Cisco Networking Academy, making your own straight-through or crossover cables will soon be a thing of the past as newer networking equipment no longer requires the creation of either cable type. Technology has made straight-through and crossover cables redundant.

Another Interesting Graphic from Cisco Networking Academy

Networking Career Path Graphic

Here is another interesting graphic from the Cisco Networking Academy.

This time, the graphic relates to Cisco networking certifications and job roles.

The graphic showed up both in my LinkedIn feed and in my Twitter feed over at @CRyanczak.

Basically, the graphic is trying to give you an idea on how to plan your future career in networking, using certifications and training provided by Cisco.

Cisco Networking Career Path

The graphic is divided into three sections:

• Entry-Level
• Associate-Level
• Professional-Level

Entry-Level

The Entry-Level section consists of what Cisco is calling "Networking Essentials (Version 3.0)". "Networking Essentials" consists of four online courses available from Cisco Networking Academy. The online courses are the following:

• Networking Basics
• Networking Devices and Initial Configuration
• Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting
• Network Support and Security

Apparently, these four courses are available as instructor-led courses. That's interesting as I have always assumed that these four courses were only available online. If you want to more information on how to attend these four courses in-person as opposed to online learning, then I suggest that you search around the Cisco Community website. Completing the four "Networking Essentials" online classes is supposed to put you on what Cisco terms the Network Technician Career Path. According to Cisco, these four classes provide a basic technical and theoretical foundation to qualify you for a Network Technician job role (see graphic). Whether these four online classes provide you with enough knowledge to get a network technician job remains to be seen. Thus far, I have completed both the "Networking Basics" and "Networking Devices and Initial Configuration" online classes. Right now, I have recently started "Module 6: Cisco Switches and Routers" in the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting online course. After I complete the fourth online course, Network Support and Security, I am planning on starting to apply for Network Technican job openings in my area and see what happens. Of course, I will post updates right here on my blog as I apply for these jobs. Apparently, there are quite a few data center-related jobs in the Maricopa County area. Hopefully, I will be able to secure a network technician job somewhere in the Glendale-Peoria-Phoenix area.

Furthermore, Cisco maintains that completing the four "Networking Essentials" online courses will prepare you for Cisco's revamped certification for Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) in Networking. A few years ago, I remember when Cisco removed the CCST from its list of certifications. When the CCST certification was withdrawn, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification became the entry-level Cisco certification. Well, the CCST certification is now officially back. The question is will I even bother to pay the $120 testing fee for the certification exam? That is a good question. If you had asked me that question a few months ago, I would have answered in the affirmative. Now, I am not so sure.

As I have worked my way through the four online classes, my opinion on the value of the CCST certification has changed. In the amount of time that I have spent on these "entry-level" classes, I could have just started studying for CCNA back from square one. In other words, I spent A LOT of TIME and EFFORT on these "entry-level" classes, such as taking copious notes in several notebooks, watching all of the training videos, and completing the Packet Tracer exercises. As a result, there has to be some kind of payoff for that kind of effort.

On the other hand, I can say that I have learned A LOT about how computer networking works. If I have to complete another module about the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), then I think that my head will explode. As a result of these online classes, I am a better user of the Packet Tracer software program than I was when I attempted to study for CCNA a couple of years ago.

Getting back to the career progression graphic, I hope to complete the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting online course within the next week or so. Once that online course is complete, I will then start the Network Support and Security online course. It is the shortest course of the four.

ADDED BONUS: While these four online classes may be classified as "entry-level", they BLOW AWAY anything offered by CompTIA for their Network+ certification. Believe me, I wasn't a very happy person when I tried to study for the Network+ certification. I still don't know how CompTIA considers the Network+ certification to be an "entry-level" certification, but that's for another blog post at another time.

Associate-Level

Moving on to the Associate-Level section of the career progression graphic...

Predictably, the centerpiece certification of the Associate-Level section is the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). Surprised? Shocked?

There are two major ways to study for the CCNA certification. First, you can attend an instructor-led course. Cisco breaks up the CCNA certification into three courses. In sequential order, the classes are:

1. CCNA: Introduction to Networks
2. CCNA: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials
3. CCNA: Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation

So, you how do you attend an instructor-led course for these three CCNA classes? The easiest way would be go to Cisco's webpage and then search for instructor-led training in your area. There might be Cisco-authorized providers in your area that specialize in providing training for IT certifications, such as CCNA, A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft Azure, and so on. You might also find that there is a community college in your area that offers classes that might prepare you for taking the CCNA certification exam. When I make another effort to study for CCNA, I will go through Cisco's website with a fine-tooth comb to find a provider that offers the three training classes for CCNA. Just know going in that the tuition for these three classes is EXPENSIVE. I could be wrong, but I think I remember seeing a $739 price tag from a provider in the Phoenix, AZ area for the CCNA: Introduction to Networks class. Aside from the cost of tuition, you might have to wait weeks or months to attend an instructor-led class at an authornized provider.

Don't want to attend an instructor-led class at a Cisco-authorized provider? Well, Cisco offers these classes online. Again, you will have to pay money to enroll in the CCNA online classes. Cisco doesn't offer these classes for free.

Believe it or not, there is a third option for studying for CCNA. It's self-study. You can purchase the official CCNA certification guides online from Amazon, from Cisco Press, or from a local bookstore. You can then download Cisco Packet Tracer for free from Cisco's webpage. The Cisco webpage has a ton of FREE resources for studying for CCNA. Probably too many. There is a caveat to self-study, however. The caveat is that you have to be very self-disciplined to study for CCNA on your own. It can be a daunting task to study for CCNA by yourself. I tried studying for CCNA by myself a couple of years ago. Once I got to the chapters that covered VLANs and the Spanning Tree Protocol after studying for a couple of months, I got OVERWHELMED. It was a humbling experience. Plus, it didn't help that I always seemed to be busy with work. When I study for CCNA again, I will seriously consider attending an instructor-led course(s).

According to Cisco, once you pass the CCNA certification exam, you are qualified to become a Network Engineer job role.

Congratulations.

Alternatively, according to Cisco's career progression graphic, you can go the DevNet Associate route after completing the CCNA: Introduction to Networks class. Once you pass the Cisco Certified DevNet Associate certification, you are then qualified to be a DevOps Engineer. What is a DevOps Engineer? I couldn't tell you. In my six years working at the Social Security Administration's Tier 1 IT help desk, I never met anyone that had that certification or wanted to study for that certification.

Here is what Cisco has to say about the DevNet Associate certification from their own website: "Achieving Cisco Certified DevNet Associate certification proves your skills in developing and maintaining applications built on Cisco platforms." The DevNet certification covers "the fundamentals of software development and design for Cisco platforms." That description could explain why I haven't met anyone that pursuing that Cisco certification.

Expert-Level

The third section of the career progression chart is labelled as Expert-level.

I have to admit that I don't know much about the CCNP certification. To be honest, the CCNP is not even on my radar.

Here is how Cisco describes the CCNP certification on their own website:

Achieving CCNP Enterprise certification proves your skills with enterprise networking solutions. To earn CCNP Enterprise certification, you pass two exams: one that covers core enterprise technologies and one concentration exam of your choice, so you can customize your certification to your technical area of focus. Candidates must pass the required exams to earn the certification. Having an active Specialist certification does not fulfill the exam requirements for Professional- and Expert-level certifications.

Thus, to achieve the CCNP certification, you must pass the certification exam for 350-401 ENCOR: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies. Then, you must pass the certification exam for one of the following concentrations:

• 300-410 ENARSI: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services
• 300-415 ENSDWI: Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Solutions
• 300-420 ENSLD: Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks
• 300-425 ENWLSD: Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks
• 300-430 ENWLSI: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks
• 300-435 ENAUTO: Automating Cisco Enterprise Solutions
• 300-440 ENCC: Designing and Implementing Cloud Connectivity
• 300-445 ENNA: Designing and Implementing Enterprise Network Assurance

So, if you achieve the CCNP certification, what can you do with it?

Well, according to Cisco, the CCNP certification trains you to be a... (Wait for it.) Network Administrator.

Finally, if you haven't had enough of studying for CCNA and CCNP, you can then study for the CCIE certification. You can read about the CCIE certification here.