Cisco Logo Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC)
Newsletter		 TAC Certified
Vol.4 No.9 September 2002 Unmatched Online Technical Support www.cisco.com/tac
From the Editor:
Hello! We have lots of Cisco TAC Web Site updates to tell you about this month. Here are the topics you will find in this issue's "What's Hot" section:

•   A preview of the redesigned Cisco TAC Web Site
•   Updates to the Software Advisor and Stack Decoder
•   The new Cisco Voice Codec Bandwidth Calculator
•   An overview of the Cisco TAC case management tools

Here at Cisco, we're excited about our recent award from the Association of Support Professionals (ASP). ASP selected the Cisco TAC Web Site as one of the ten best support sites for 2002. Thank you very much to everyone who has given us feedback over the last year. Your comments tell us what improvements to make to the site.

Speaking of feedback, if you have any thoughts about the Cisco TAC News mailings you receive (the TAC Newsletter and TAC News Flashes), I'd love to hear from you. You can e-mail me at tacnews-feedback@cisco.com. I may not be able to respond to every message, but I'll do my best to read them all.

So, read on for the latest updates to the Cisco TAC Web Site, and thanks again for your candid comments and suggestions.

- J. Gardner
Cisco TAC News Editor

In This Issue:
What's Hot
Online Technical Training Opportunities
CCIE® Central

Access
Access: Broadband Cable
Content Delivery Devices
IBM
LAN
Network Management Software (NMS)
Network Security
Storage Area Networking (SAN)
TCP/IP: IP Routing
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
Voice, Telephony, and Messaging

Cisco TAC Newsletter Archive
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What's Hot

Cisco TAC Web Site Preview - NEW:
Take the New Cisco TAC Web Site for a Test Drive!

Our newly redesigned Cisco TAC Web Site is now available for you to preview and provide feedback on. This new site simplifies navigation and gives you faster access to all the online technical support resources you use today.

Some of the improvements you will see in the preview site include:

  • Re-organization of all Cisco TAC content into three easy-to-navigate categories: Hardware, Software, and Technologies.
  • A new navigation bar on the left side of the page to help you move around quickly and keep track of where you are.
  • A new "Tools & Utilities" section featuring the Cisco TAC Advanced Search, where you can construct general or specific queries to find the information you need.
  • A prominent link to the TAC Case Open tool, which offers the fastest means of opening and resolving P3 and P4 cases.

This preview site marks one of the first stages in a larger redesign of the entire Cisco Web site. Take a few moments today to try out the new page, and be sure to log in to the site with your user ID and password to see all the changes. If you have any comments or suggestions, please click the "Give us Feedback" link on the new page to send us your thoughts:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_tac_web_preview.html

For information on the larger redesign of the Cisco Web site, please visit:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_new_cisco_preview.html

Cisco Software Advisor Tool - ENHANCED:
Software Advisor Now Supports Cisco Catalyst 4000 Series Switches

The Cisco TAC Web Site's Software Advisor tool helps you research compatibility and feature information for Cisco Catalyst® Operating System (CatOS) and Cisco IOS® software. This tool now offers full feature and hardware configuration support for Cisco Catalyst 4000 Series switches that run CatOS, including the Catalyst 4003 and 4006 modular chassis, and the Catalyst 2948G, 2980G, 2980G-A, and 4912G fixed models. The Software Advisor also supports Cisco Catalyst 5000 and 6000 Series switches that run CatOS.

You can use the Software Advisor to:

  • Match CatOS and Cisco IOS features to software releases
  • Find out which software release supports your hardware
  • Compare Cisco IOS releases

Get the software support you need with the updated Software Advisor tool:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_software_advisor.html
(available to registered users only)

Cisco Stack Decoder Tool - ENHANCED:
Latest Release Offers Faster Analysis

The Cisco Stack Decoder tool can speed the process of troubleshooting an unexpected reload on a Cisco IOS® router. This tool compares the output of the "show stack" command against the Cisco TAC's database of known bugs, to provide a fast, accurate analysis of your command output.

Next time you encounter an unexpected reload, simply paste your "show stack" output into the text field on the Stack Decoder page and click the "Submit" button. With the recent enhancements to the tool, your analysis will display immediately, listing bugs that may have caused the reload.

Check out the Stack Decoder today to see the speed improvements first-hand:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_stack_decoder.html
(available to registered users only)

Cisco Voice Codec Bandwidth Calculator - NEW:
New Tool for Capacity Planning in Packet Voice Networks

The Cisco TAC Web Site recently launched the Cisco Voice Codec Bandwidth Calculator, a new tool to help you determine the bandwidth used in packet voice calls with different codecs over various protocols.

The Voice Codec Bandwidth Calculator will prompt you for information, then compute the following data:

  • Codec information: bit rate, sample size, and sample interval.
  • Bandwidth calculations: packets per second (voice over IP), frames per second (voice over Frame Relay), cells per frame (voice over ATM), bandwidth per call, and much more.
  • Packet/Frame/Cell-size calculations: header information for the protocol you selected.
  • A table displaying these calculations for a variety of voice payload size scenarios.

Whether you want to plan a new packet voice network or analyze an existing configuration, let the Voice Codec Bandwidth Calculator do the math for you:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_voice_codec_bandwidth_tool.html
(available to registered users only)

Cisco TAC Case Management Tools - UPDATE:
Cisco TAC Case Open and Case Query Tools Offer Speed and Convenience

The Cisco TAC Case Open and Case Query tools let you open and manage TAC cases yourself, quickly and conveniently:

  • The TAC Case Open tool offers the fastest way to open Priority 3 (P3) and P4 cases and, after you describe your case online, the tool recommends resources that may provide a solution immediately.
  • The TAC Case Query tool not only gives you the latest information on your recent TAC cases, but also lets you update open cases by adding notes or uploading files anytime.

These tools put the person in control who is most qualified to describe and update your TAC cases -- you! Give the Cisco TAC case management tools a try next time you need to open or query your cases:

Cisco TAC Case Open tool:
http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_case_open_tool.html
(available to registered users only)

Cisco TAC Case Query tool:
http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_case_query.html
(available to registered users only)

Online Technical Training Opportunities

Cisco TAC Web Seminars - UPDATE:
Seminars Provide Training on Redesigned Cisco TAC Web Site

The Cisco TAC Web Seminars, available online as live or on-demand training sessions, give you the information you need to navigate the redesigned Cisco TAC Web Site.

These free seminars show you how to use many of the same resources that Cisco TAC engineers use to research and troubleshoot technical issues, open cases online, and obtain technical training. Several upcoming live seminars will teach you how to do all this on the newly redesigned Cisco TAC Web Site:

  • September 18 and October 16:
    "Using the Cisco TAC Web Site for LAN Switching Issues"

  • September 26, October 10, and October 22:
    "Using the Cisco TAC Web Site for Online Support"

  • October 17:
    "Using the Cisco TAC Web Site for Voice, Telephony, and Messaging Issues"

Come visit the Cisco TAC Web Seminars site to register for a live seminar offered during your region's business hours or to attend an on-demand seminar:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_tac_web_sem.html
(available to all users, but separate registration on this stand-alone site is required)

Networking Professionals Connection - UPDATE:
New Content Available in Searchable Q&As

Networking Professionals Connection is an interactive Web site where you can share questions, suggestions, and information about Cisco networking products and technologies with your peers. We recently expanded the site's searchable database with thousands of new Q&As, which Cisco TAC engineers have reviewed and approved. You can recognize these Q&As in your search results by their label, "Imported from OpenForum."

Here are just a few of the new Q&As you can find with our "Search" field:

Watch for other discussions labeled "Imported from OpenForum" in your search results at the Networking Professionals Connection:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_net_pro_con.html

CCIE® Central

CCIE Routing and Switching Exam - UPDATE:
More Questions, Fewer Technology Areas

Getting ready to take the CCIE® Routing and Switching test? A new, longer version of this exam will reward your study and hard work by giving you a better chance to prove your expertise.

The new version of the written test includes 150 questions instead of 100, and lasts 180 minutes instead of 120. These updates test the most timely, relevant subject matter and allow you to demonstrate in-depth understanding of each technology area in the Routing and Switching exam.

Also, as of November 4, 2002, the Routing and Switching exam will no longer include the following topics:

  • Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
  • Token Ring
  • Token Ring switching
  • Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX)

For more details, be sure to review the new exam blueprint and study suggestions at the CCIE Web site:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_ccie_routing_switching.html

CCIE Lab Equipment - UPDATE:
Cisco Catalyst 3550 Switches to Replace Cisco Catalyst 5000 Switches

Between September 1 and November 4, 2002, all CCIE labs will replace their Catalyst 5000 switches with Catalyst 3550 switches. The only switching features tested during this time will be those common to both devices. Additional features on the Catalyst 3550 will only be tested after November 4, 2002.

If you have questions about this change, please e-mail ccie-lab@cisco.com and allow 72 hours for a response. For more information about this change, see the CCIE What's New page at:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/0902_ccie_whats_new.html

Access

Tech Note:
Understanding Line Impairments

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/471/line_impair.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/471/line_impair.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Understanding Call Tracker Outputs

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/471/calltracker_view.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/471/calltracker_view.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Understanding "debug ppp negotiation" Output

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/471/debug_ppp_negotiation.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/471/debug_ppp_negotiation.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Understanding and Configuring PPP CHAP Authentication

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/471/understanding_ppp_chap.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/471/understanding_ppp_chap.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Access: Broadband Cable

Tech Note:
What Is the Maximum Number of Users per CMTS?

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/109/max_number_cmts.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/109/max_number_cmts.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Content Delivery Devices

Tech Note:
Settings to Make a Console Connection to the Cisco CSS 11000 SCA

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/117/sca_terminal_22149.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/117/sca_terminal_22149.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Cisco CSS 11000 Layer 5 Content Rules

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/117/layer5rule.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/117/layer5rule.html
(available to nonregistered users)

How To:
How to Configure TACACS+ Support on the Cisco Cache Engine

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/117/cache_engine/tacacs_ce500.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/117/cache_engine/tacacs_ce500.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Password Recovery:
Password Recovery for the Cisco CSS 11000 Secure Content Accelerator

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/474/pswdrec_sca.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/474/pswdrec_sca.html
(available to nonregistered users)

IBM

Tech Note:
Configuring IRB and Token Ring Frames with RIF

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/698/irb_trb.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/698/irb_trb.html
(available to nonregistered users)

LAN

Tech Note:
Rebuilding the Multicast Entries with CGMP and Spanning-Tree Topology Changes

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/473/154.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/473/154.html
(available to nonregistered users)

White Paper:
Understanding Quality of Service on Cisco Catalyst® 6000 Series Switches

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/473/152.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/473/152.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Network Management Software (NMS)

Tech Note:
Installing CiscoWorks 2000 (RME and CWSI Version 2.x) on a Windows NT 4.0 Server

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/Campus/32.shtml
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/Campus/32.shtml
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
MIB Compilers and Loading MIBs

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/SNMP/mibcompilers.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/SNMP/mibcompilers.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF Licensing Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-license.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-license.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF Miscellaneous Topics Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-misc.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-misc.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF Performance Management Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-perf.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-perf.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF SNMP Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-snmp.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-snmp.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF Test Rigs and Utilities Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-testrigs.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-testrigs.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF State Machines Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-state.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-state.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF Self Management Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-selfmngm.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-selfmngm.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco EMF Event Browser Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/477/CEMF/faqs-eventbrows.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/477/CEMF/faqs-eventbrows.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Network Security

Tech Note:
Configuring IP Access Lists

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/707/confaccesslists.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/confaccesslists.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Storage Area Networking (SAN)

Tech Note:
Hardware Troubleshooting for Cisco SN 5420 Storage Routers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/741/7.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/741/7.html
(available to nonregistered users)

TCP/IP: IP Routing

Configuration Example:
Tunneling IPv6 through an IPv4 Network

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/105/ipv6tunnel.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/105/ipv6tunnel.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
QoS Solutions for PPPoE and DSL Environments

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/105/pppoe_qos_dsl.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/105/pppoe_qos_dsl.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Configuration Example:
Configuring the Cisco PIX® 501 and 506 Easy VPN Remote Hardware Client to a Cisco IOS® Router in Network Extension Mode with Extended Authentication

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/110/pix-ios-easyvpn.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/110/pix-ios-easyvpn.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Configuration Example:
Configuring an IPSec Tunnel between a Cisco Router and a Checkpoint NG

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/707/ipsec-checkpt.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/ipsec-checkpt.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Voice, Telephony, and Messaging

Tech Note:
Configuring Cisco IP PPS to Work with Active/Netscape Directory

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/AVVID/pps-ad2.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/AVVID/pps-ad2.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Changing Active or Netscape Directory Integration Back to DC Directory

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/AVVID/change2_dcdirectory.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/AVVID/change2_dcdirectory.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Troubleshooting Personal Directory with Cisco CallManager 3.x

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/AVVID/troubleshoot_person_dir_callman.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/AVVID/troubleshoot_person_dir_callman.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Upgrading Analog Telephone Adaptors (ATAs)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/voip/ata-upgrade.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/voip/ata-upgrade.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Designing and Deploying Multilink PPP over Frame Relay and ATM

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/voice-qos/designing-mlp-over-fr-atm.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/voice-qos/designing-mlp-over-fr-atm.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Troubleshooting Hissing and Static

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/voice-qos/hissing.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/voice-qos/hissing.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Problems with ISDN Overlap Receiving an Unallocated/Unassigned Number

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/signalling/isdn_overlap_prob.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/signalling/isdn_overlap_prob.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Understanding DSP Allocation on a Cisco ICS 7750

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/products/dsp_allocation_guide.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/products/dsp_allocation_guide.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Tech Note:
Cisco ICS 7750 Backup and Restore Procedures

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/products/ics_backup_restore.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/products/ics_backup_restore.html
(available to nonregistered users)

How To:
How to Configure Cisco CallManager to Recognize Cisco ATA 186 Using SCCP

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/voip/ata_sccp.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/voip/ata_sccp.html
(available to nonregistered users)

How To:
How to Configure Microsoft NetMeeting with Cisco IOS® Gateways

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/voip/netmeeting-ios.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/voip/netmeeting-ios.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Q&As:
Cisco CallManager Attendant Console Questions and Answers

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/AVVID/att_con_ts.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/AVVID/att_con_ts.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Problem and Solution:
Troubleshooting MailView Issues for Cisco IP Phone Productivity Services

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/AVVID/ts_mailview.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/AVVID/ts_mailview.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Problem and Solution:
Cisco ATA 186 Fails to Place a Call in a Gatekeeper-Based Network

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/voip/ata186_no_call_gk.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/voip/ata186_no_call_gk.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Problem and Solution:
Troubleshooting VTSP-3-DSP_TIMEOUT Error on Cisco AS5300 Series Platforms

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/products/troubleshoot_vtsp_3_dsp_timeout.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/products/troubleshoot_vtsp_3_dsp_timeout.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Problem and Solution:
Cisco IP SoftPhone Does Not Go Offhook (No Dial Tone)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/AVVID/softphone-no-dial-tone.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/AVVID/softphone-no-dial-tone.html
(available to nonregistered users)

Problem and Solution:
Zone Prefix Processing with Dots Versus Asterisks

http://www.cisco.com/warp/customer/788/voip/zone_pre_process_dots_asterisks.html
(available to registered users)

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/788/voip/zone_pre_process_dots_asterisks.html
(available to nonregistered users)

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