The book begins with some general discussions about switching that present various approaches to managing network congestion, followed by coverage of Virtual LANs and ATM LAN emulation. With these critical topics under your belt, it's then on to the Cisco products--from the Catalyst 1900 to the Catalyst 5000. Both the hardware and related software programs are presented well, which arm the reader with a detailed knowledge of the product line.

At the beginning of each chapter, the specific exam objectives are clearly stated in the topical introduction. (The "Tips and Notes" sections present very useful tidbits of information.) Each chapter concludes with a series of review questions and, in some sections, laboratory exercises. These exercises are a bit more detailed than seen in other Sybex CCNP Study Guides, with explanations of each solution.

A companion CD-ROM contains the EdgeTest exam preparation software with 200 questions, a trial version of Visio Professional, and four network utility programs from AG Group. If you're working toward your CCNP certification, this lengthy hardback is a must for your studies. --Stephen W. Plain