Cisco 800-150 - Supporting Cisco Devices for Field Technicians (FLDTEC)

In theFLDTEC course, underSafety and ESD Procedures, Cisco outlines the following safety workflow before working on any network hardware:

Locate Emergency Power-Off Switch: Identifying how to cut power quickly is essential in case of an electrical fault or emergency.

Disconnect Power: Always ensure the power source is turned off and disconnected before handling any components.

Verify with Multimeter: Use a multimeter to confirm that no voltage is present before proceeding.

Connect ESD Strap: Once confirmed safe, attach your ESD strap to a grounded point to prevent electrostatic damage to sensitive components.

Following this process is critical not only forpersonal safetybut also forequipment protection, especially duringhardware installation, maintenance, or RMA replacements.

Cloud-based managementis a core feature of Cisco Merakiswitches and significantly simplifies the device replacement process. When a failed switch is replaced:

The new hardware can be claimed in the Meraki dashboard.

The previously assigned configuration is automatically applied to the replacement device.

This eliminates the need for local reconfiguration and ensures continuity with minimal manual effort.

This centralized approach ensures that configurations are stored securely and consistently applied across devices.

TheCisco Catalyst 9000 Seriesis engineered to address the evolving needs of modern enterprise networks by integrating the functionalities of both the core and distribution layers into a unified, converged architecture. This series offers advanced capabilities such as high-speed data forwarding, enhanced security features, and support for automation and programmability, making it suitable for scalable and efficient network designs.​

The Catalyst 9000 Series includes models like the Catalyst 9500 and 9600, which are optimized for core and distribution roles, providing high throughput and reliability. These switches support advanced features like Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) and are designed to meet the demands of cloud-scale and security-focused environments.​

In contrast, theMeraki MS400 Series(Option A) is tailored for cloud-managed aggregation and lacks the comprehensive feature set required for core functionalities. TheCatalyst 6500 E-Series(Option B), while historically significant, is considered a legacy platform and may not support the latest advancements in network convergence. TheCatalyst 1300 Series(Option C) is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and is not intended for core or distribution layer deployments.​

Acrossover UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cableis used to connect two similar devices directly. This includes:​

Switch to switch

Router to router

PC to PC​

The crossover cable reverses the transmit and receive pairs, allowing for proper communication between like devices without the need for an intermediary device.​

Conversely, astraight-through cableis used to connect dissimilar devices, such as:​

PC to switch

Router to switch

PC to router​

This cable maintains the same wiring on both ends, suitable for connecting different types of devices.​

Therefore, when connecting electrically like devices, a crossover cable is appropriate.​

Online Insertion and Removal (OIR)is a feature supported by Cisco ASR routers that allows for the insertion and removal of hardware components, such as line cards and modules, while the router is operating. Thiscapability enables maintenance and upgrades without the need to power down the system, thus minimizing network downtime.​

Key aspects of OIR include:​

Seamless Operation:OIR allows for hardware changes without interrupting the router's operation.​

Preservation of Routing Information:The router maintains all routing information and active sessions during the insertion or removal process.

Administrative Shutdown:While not mandatory, it is recommended to administratively shut down the interfaces associated with the component being removed to ensure a graceful transition.​

This feature is particularly beneficial in high-availability environments where maintaining continuous network service is critical.​

In a Cisco Nexus switch withdual power supplies, the recommended method is toconnect each power supply to a separate power source(Option C). This ensures power redundancy and fault tolerance.

If one power source fails (e.g., due to a power outage or circuit failure), the switch can continue operating uninterrupted using the second power source. Connecting both to a single source (Option D) defeats the purpose of redundancy.

Asubnet maskis a 32-bit number used in IP networking to divide an IP address into network and host portions. This division is crucial for routing traffic within and between networks. The subnet mask works in tandem with the IP address to identify which part of the address refers to the network and which part refers to the host. This distinction allows for efficient IP address allocation and routing.​

For example, in the IP address 192.168.1.10 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, the first three octets (192.168.1) represent the network portion, while the last octet (10) identifies the specific host within that network.​

On aCisco Meraki switch, briefly pressing therestore/reset button(typically less than 5 seconds) triggers:

A reboot of the device(Option A)

Clearing of the local management interface settings(Option D), which may include temporary network information such as DHCP leases or local overrides.

To perform a full factory reset (Option B), the button must be held down for a longer duration, usuallymore than 10seconds. Options C and E do not reflect standard reset behavior.

Theinstall allcommand is the standard method used to install or upgrade Cisco NX-OS software on Nexus switches. This command streamlines the installation process by automating tasks such as verifying the software image, checking for compatibility, and managing the installation of optional packages or SMUs (Software Maintenance Upgrades). It ensures a comprehensive and efficient upgrade process, minimizing the potential for errors.​Cisco

In contrast:​

copy tftp: running-configis used to copy configuration files, not software images.

install kickstartis an outdated command from earlier NX-OS versions.

boot systemsets the boot variable but does not handle the full installation process.​

In the hierarchical network design model, theaccess layeris the first layer and serves as the entry point for end-user devices to connect to the network. This layer connects user devices such as PCs, IP phones, wireless access points, printers, and scanners to the network. It facilitates the initial connection between end-user devices and the network infrastructure. The access layer also enforces security policies and provides services such as VLAN membership, port security, and Quality of Service (QoS).​

Options A, C, and D refer to functions typically associated with the core or distribution layers, or with WAN connectivity, rather than the access layer.​