BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)

About NetworkLessons.com
Welcome to NetworkLessons.com – The site that explains complex networking topics
as simple as possible for you.
My name is René Molenaar – CCIE #41726 and I’m a full-time instructor and consultant
that works with Cisco Routing & Switching, Wireless, Security, Linux and a tiny bit of
Microsoft.

My Story

Back in 2002, I started my own business as a Microsoft / Linux system engineer

spending most of my time configuring and troubleshooting Windows and Linux servers
for small to medium sized businesses.

During these first years, I also got my hands on (Cisco) networking equipment which I
really enjoyed since everything was command-line based, I always loved working with
the CLI ever since I messed around with DOS as a kid.

I stopped working as a system engineer and switched completely towards networking,

intrigued by the amount of information there was to learn about routing & switching,
wireless and security. A couple of years later I became a CCSI (Cisco Certified System
Instructor) teaching popular courses like CCNA / CCNP for the routing & switching and
wireless tracks.

In my classroom courses, I always start explaining the theory on a certain topic and
then offer the students a “lab” (exercise) that I created for them. This lab represents a
network with some routers and switches and they have to complete a number of tasks.
Finishing the lab means that the student understands the theory but is also able to
implement the things he/she has learned.

In 2010 I created GNS3Vault.com where you can find all the labs that I have created so
far. There are over 300 labs with solutions and you can even watch my videos on the
GNS3Vault youtube channel where I walk you through the solution step-by-step.
I started getting technical questions from GNS3Vault visitors because they didn’t fully
understand some of the lab tasks or the commands that I used. The problem with labs
is that you have to understand the theory behind the networking protocols before you
can start configuring.
To solve this problem, I started writing the How to Master book series. So far there are
books for the CCNA and CCNP R&S exams and there are many more to come. In the
books, I explain the theory of networking the same way as I do in my classroom
courses…plain and simple. The books allow students who don’t have access to
classroom training to study for Cisco exams on their own.

Nowadays I spend most of my time as a consultant and instructor working on Cisco

routers, switches, firewalls, wireless and some Linux. When I have some spare time I
enjoy playing around with Python.

Why NetworkLessons.com?
This site is dedicated to helping students understand (complex) networking topics. I do
my best to explain things as simple as possible to help people pursuing a career as
network engineer or who want to pass the Cisco CCNA, CCNP and CCIE exams.