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Test Environment

Posted on November 5, 2010 by cbroccoli

My test environment consists primarily of a single generic Compaq PC with a Intel dual core processor with 4G of memory. It came with 64bit Windows7 installed.

Other than the Windows7 OS running on the PC, I am using exclusively OpenSource software. I considered replacing Windows with a Linux desktop, but I decided against it since I am also interested in seeing how Windows7 works. Instead, I downloaded OracleVirtualBox so that I can also install various Linux systems and still keep my Windows desktop. VBox installed without any problems and I was able to install virtual hosts immediately. The first host I installed was an Ubuntu desktop. VBox comes with several networking methods (NAT, bridged, internal network, and host-only network). Each has its own benefits which are explained very well in the documentation.

Of course being into networks, I have also downloaded and installed GNS3. GNS3 is a network simulation tool which allows you to build virtual networks. The virtual devices actually boot images in a similar way that VBox and VMWare install and boot virtual machines. Thanks to a colleague of mine, I was able to obtain a couple of Cisco IOS images as well as an ASA image.

Once both tools are installed, the two virtual environments work very well together. GNS3 can see both the VBox host-only network and the Microsoft Loopback adapter, which is bridged to the external LAN (my WLAN in this case). By doing this you can build an internal network with a number of routers and Vbox end systems all reachable from your normal home devices.

Finally, I have installed Ubuntu virtual server which I use for testing server features. The Ubuntu server is currently running Apache, MySQL, and PHP so that I could learn about b2evolution (the blogging engine I am using) before integrating it into the web site.

That’s what I have put together so far. Next step is to add some configuration details of how each piece is configured since it did take some research to get things working and I need to get them documented.

Introduction

Posted on November 2, 2010 by cbroccoli

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As is customary, I guess I need to introduce myself in my first post. As I mentioned in the sidebar, I started this blog to document some of the technical topics I come across at work, at home, in books, or otherwise.

The picture at the top of the page is supposedly the original diagram of an Ethernet network. Being an engineer who has worked almost exclusively in telecommunications and data networking, I thought this was appropriate. I was first exposed to modern networking (Ethernet, TCP/IP, etc.) in 1991. I configured my first AGS+ router in 1992, my first Cisco (Kalpana) switch in 1995 and my first firewall and corporate Internet access in the 1993-’94 time frame. Since then I have implemented countless routers, switches, firewalls and other miscellaneous devices and have not looked back. I have also been involved in evaluating and testing many of the technologies which were supposed to replace Ethernet as a better, faster, more reliable networking technology (FDDI, 100VG-AnyLAN, ATM/LANE, Infiniband, etc.). Needless to say, none have lived up to the hype, and I can proudly say I never fell for any of them. Although Infiniband lives on and keeps getting new leases on life, with 10G Ethernet now supported on copper, RDMA support, 100G coming soon, it too is not long for this world.

Since my original education I have only gotten around to a single technical certification, the CISSP. The certification compliments my networking background well and only required one test. The reason I never got a CCIE is that it requires much more than one test and I have never really seen the practical benefit.

I have recently moved into an architecture roll and that is the reason for the EA category. Although I am still primarily a network and network security architect, I am also interested in topics concerning general enterprise architecture, corporate governance and architectural frameworks (I am TOGAF certified as well).

If you found your way here by accident or if you are a friend who found their way here via Facebook or other social network, feel free to look around. Although I am including information here for personal use, I hope it is understandable and maybe even helpful or interesting depending on what you are looking for. Feel free to leave a comment, positive or negative, just remember, I am always right ;-).