The challenges involved in maintaining & expanding a toolkit probably differ when you contrast hardware-based tools with software-based ones, as well as the sets of tools used for design/implementation vs. those used for troubleshooting purposes (although there's certainly some opportunity for overlap between those two). To expand your set of troubleshooting skills, simply perform successful analysis of the next connectivity, performance issue you are charged with without telnetting/consoling to the router. There's a lot of underexploited features of commonly-deployed software lying in wait. Now, when you are trying to solve a problem that requires you to identify the right combination of software/hardware to serve as an intermediate system, expanding your "toolkit" might not be an option due to the tendency the manufacturers' have to charge for their products. Maybe an altheon or a checkpoint might be a better solution for the problem at hand rather than the corresponding set of router commands that allegedly provide comparable functionality, but you aren't a billionaire or refuse to buy into sadistically complex licensing schemes. As usual, real-world outcomes tend to not always reflect the optimal leveraging of technology. I'd certainly agree that people don't make enough use of the tools they DO have, both hardware & software, for both design & troubleshooting purposes, due mainly to a lack of familiarity with non-standard ways using technology, which may or may not be linked to a lack of willingness to explore these options.
As far as hammers go, If you order the list from those implements which can bring the least amount of classical/newtonian force to bear to those implements which can bring the most amount of force to bear, i'm pretty sure that you start matching them with cisco routers, and you almost certainly end up with a different vendor's products when you get to the more powerful hammers. I'd appreciate any insight on completing the following: "If the only tool at your disposal is disconnecting and reconnecting power cables, then every problem looks like a ________" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck" To: Sent: 25 May 2002 3:48 pm Subject: Re: Provider Backbone Engineering and CCIEs [7:44876] > It figures, Howard, that you would have a plethora of sizes and types of > hammers in your garage. I have only one, and believe me, just about every > household repair problem indeed looks exactly like a nail. Even the one > involving the pulling up of carpet to repair the rotted flooring underneath. > > It is absolutely correct that the skilled professional SHOULD have a variety > of tools on his/her belt, and SHOULD know how to use those tools, and in > what circumstances. A number of the real world problems we discuss on this > list tend to result from the limits of people's expertise. Some folks just > "try things" until they solve a particular problem. After several months of > this they have One Giant Mess, they don't know what to do. > > One can hope that the folks on this list are making a best effort to acquire > a variety of tools, and the knowledge necessary to use them appropriately. > > Chuck > > > > ""Howard C. Berkowitz"" wrote in message > [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > > At 1:25 PM -0400 5/24/02, Chuck wrote: > > >""Priscilla Oppenheimer"" wrote in message > > >[EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > > >> At 07:32 AM 5/24/02, dre wrote: > > >> > Cisco router to solve any problem, even those that shouldn't be > solved > > >> >with > > >> >a router! > > >> > > >snip for brevity > > >> > > >> I know this is a tangent from the real discussion, but I just wanted > to > > >> make that additional point about a Cisco router not being the solution > to > > > every problem. > > > > This goes beyond tangent. It is a sin. > > > > > > > > > > >most of us here are really just a bunch of router jocks. what do you > think > > >we would use? ;-> > > >when your only tool is a hammer, all your problems look like nails!!! :-> > > > > > >Chuck > > > > Only tool? Match up column A and column B (I'm only citing things > > that actually are in my own shop), and cite the equivalent routers. > > > > tack hammer 6" spike > > 8 oz two-faced mallet 4d finishing > > 16 oz two-faced mallet 16d galvanized common > > 10 lb sledge 18gauge brad > > 16 oz black rubber mallet 8d bright common > > 16 oz ball-pein 3" masonry > > drywall hammer drywall nail > > 8 oz ball pein 2" masonry > > 2 lb sledge 16d bright common > > 24 oz wood handled carpenter 8d finishing > > 32 oz all metal carpenter 6d finishing > > Meat tenderizer 3/4" aluminum roofing > > 8 oz wood handled carpenter wire staple for Romex > > dead blow hammer carpet tacks Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=45105&t=44876 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
