The VIRL BOOK: A Step-by-Step Guide Using Cisco Virtual Internet Routing Lab

A great book, with online; my plan is to use this book, virl to recert ccnp first, probably switch lab manual then router lab; so let us do this first; and see how it goes; got virl personal, well paid for it; VMware workstation pro, etc.Still working full time and in college part time so ...I been doing hardware... so saves $$ and time in long run...I hear INE is getting rid of cisco gear to use VMWell we shall see.So will update in a few..July 1 2017 installingvVIRL, school over with n long weekend, hope install goes well.July 14,2017 Friday, hard to get time on Virl, pulled out 2016 version of Cisco packet tracer. Got copy of CCNP switch manual. Do both, find Jack how to on large screen. As you age, need bigger type.Will update. Fyi install went perfectly with the VIRL book. My intent is still recert CCNP, do labs with cisco packet tracer and VIRL. Picture of old gear and VIRL screen shot. This is slow process as I work full time, tutor math and Online pc class. Squeeze in VIRL. Fall will take couple cyber classes... Oh well.July 19-2016 Wednesday-was in a Red Hat presentation, thought about what I had on plate; cut back on classes for cybersec; Just one network security only; Free up time to do recert CCNP; give my self time to do switch labs and give VIRL a shot. April is far away but with working and tutoring one on one, and even one class. Maybe not take any, cybersec will still be there; might be wise to concentrate on doing switch labs for 300-115. I would like to take the exam early to get an idea how hard it is. Say if I shoot for December when work slows down.Maybe give VIRL a good workout for me. Since this is all new to me. So work, tutor cyber, math one on one, and VIRL switch exam. Do exam asap as I finish lab manual.=================a year later; got new 2nd edition ;; june;july 14-2018;; march or April-2018-failed ccnp recert; 720/790 300-115 test;renewed virl 1.5 till june 2020;plan to study ccie rs using cisco virl 1.5;brought server 96 gig ram-dual quad cpu; dual 450 gig SSD harddrives; loaded cisco virl on both; typing thison other 16gig ram quad Lenovo laptop; using verizon wireless;trying renew salt servers for practice;

I do like the book and follow Jack Wang in Linked-IN and the book website. What I do not like is the lack of support when questions arise that for a new book and the VIRL complexities as this is a rather new product in the Cisco and/or Network community I think would help the book even more in the long run. I also agree with Jack, that VIRL is an amazing alternative for people seeking Cisco certification vs buying hardware for labs etc. VIRL just cancelled the 30 node version, leaving it with the 20 node version only which is still a great value. The NETWORKING world is undergoing its biggest changes, VIRL is a great way to get into the virtualization and SDN environments for starters. Jack is basically a pioneer of the VIRL books! The author has made a wise move by writing this book! Congratulations!

I have been using Cisco's VIRL for several months now and struggled through getting through many of the features working that the author lays out in clear instructions in this book. As I was working through issues, I had to sift through forum posts and figure out much of it through trial and error that took quite a bit of time to get through. Much of the time that I had intended to be spending studying for certifications and working through some topologies to test out, was instead spent learning this platform. I wish I had this as a resource when I was first starting out.The book starts out simple and gradually moves into more advanced subjects and would work well as both a reference and a "getting started" guide. Frankly, this book should be provided by Cisco as part of the subscription to VIRL. Perhaps Cisco should hire him to write guides like this on their behalf. There was quite a bit that could be covered, and I was glad to see that the book wasn't fluffed up with general 'intro to networking' concepts, but rather with actual information on VIRL itself. The examples and descriptions provided are more of a way to demonstrate features of VIRL rather than trying to teach networking concepts. Exactly what it should be.I eventually found Jack's site as I was working through an issue to a posting he had about an issue I was having and I signed up to be notified of his book when it came out. I was provided an advance copy to be ready to write a review when it was released, unsure if I would actually buy it for myself. After reading the book, I went ahead and bought it since he did a great job in putting this together. So... Yes, I was provided an advance copy of the book, but I bought it anyway when it was released. My review is genuine. Well done Jack.I would encourage the author to make regular updates to the book to people that buy it as the platform changes. VIRL is constantly changing both in features and requirements and parts of this book may be quickly outdate without some updates.

Great accompaniment reference with hidden nuggets of information to improve upon your VIRL setup.This is a must have book to accompany your VIRL setup. I have used VIRL from the start since 2014 and the original Cisco documentation was absolutely dreadful as the product back then. The first edition of this book helped tremendously in not only setting up VIRL but in using some of the other advanced features.Cisco did such a poor job in its initial deployment of VIRL for the first few years to the point where you would spend more time setting it up or fixing it than actually using it. This book helps tremendously, easy to follow and well written and can be used as a single source.Now that Cisco has improved the VIRL installation/upgrade and use process the 2nd edition of this book is worth it to complement Cisco's VIRL "community based" documentation(which means it may change or move at any given time) plus covers different types of installs and advanced uses of VIRL.Great job Jack….