Denise "Fish" Fishburne

Author Archives: Denise "Fish" Fishburne

Understanding IPv6: The Journey Begins (Part 1 of 7)

IPv6 and I met back in the early 2000s. I really didn’t see the big deal or know what all the RFCs were about. This stuff was easy. Of course, at the time, my thoughts were barely even scratching at the surface, and I still believed IPv6 was just IPv4 with 128 bits. I was in what I now refer to as the “Checklist IPv6” phase.

“Checklist IPv6” was actually a great place for me to start. I had to remember only a few things while I was configuring the routers. Then I could kick back and let the magic of routing protocols work. Voila, IPv6 addresses would show up in the routing table of some other router in the lab. Ping to confirm, and I was done.

IPv6 “I know nothing” phase

The quote “The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know. The less you know, the more you think you know,” is attributed to David T. Freeman. I discovered the truth of this as I began digging deeper. The trigger to this phase was when I realized that IPv6 was clearly not IPv4 with 128 bits. When did that happen? When Continue reading

Understanding IPv6: The Journey Begins (Part 1 of 7)

IPv6 and I met back in the early 2000s. I really didn’t see the big deal or know what all the RFCs were about. This stuff was easy. Of course, at the time, my thoughts were barely even scratching at the surface, and I still believed IPv6 was just IPv4 with 128 bits. I was in what I now refer to as the “Checklist IPv6” phase.

“Checklist IPv6” was actually a great place for me to start. I had to remember only a few things while I was configuring the routers. Then I could kick back and let the magic of routing protocols work. Voila, IPv6 addresses would show up in the routing table of some other router in the lab. Ping to confirm, and I was done.

IPv6 “I know nothing” phase

The quote “The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know. The less you know, the more you think you know,” is attributed to David T. Freeman. I discovered the truth of this as I began digging deeper. The trigger to this phase was when I realized that IPv6 was clearly not IPv4 with 128 bits. When did that happen? When Continue reading

The Case of the Flapping BGP Routes: A Network Detective Ride-Along

 

Let’s go on a Network Detective Ride-Along together!  ?   YouTube Style!   Case open to case closed in less than 15 minutes.  You ride along!  Use the 3 part BGP Table Version blog series below the YouTube to see how to use BGP table version in your Network Detecting.

Ready to hop on the case with me?  Just click below.

 

Understanding the BGP Table Version – Part 1: Introduction to BGP Table Version

Understanding the BGP Table Version – Part 2: BGP Table Version in Action

Understanding the BGP Table Version – Part 3: BGP Table Version & Troubleshooting

 

The Case of the Flapping BGP Routes: A Network Detective Ride-Along

 

Let’s go on a Network Detective Ride-Along together!  ?   YouTube Style!   Case open to case closed in less than 15 minutes.  You ride along!  Use the 3 part BGP Table Version blog series below the YouTube to see how to use BGP table version in your Network Detecting.

Ready to hop on the case with me?  Just click below.

 

Understanding the BGP Table Version – Part 1: Introduction to BGP Table Version

Understanding the BGP Table Version – Part 2: BGP Table Version in Action

Understanding the BGP Table Version – Part 3: BGP Table Version & Troubleshooting

 

Ready for CiscoLive Barcelona? Woot! Woot! See ya there!

In less than 2 weeks CiscoLive Europe 2018 will be in full swing!  And, as usual, I am so incredibly excited!  ?  This happens to me before every CiscoLive…. round about two weeks prior to the start of the event.  I just turn into a super excited little kid.  Like a little kid looking forward to going back to their favorite summer camp.  ?   I’m even already mostly packed.  Teehee.

CiscoLive Barcelona – Plans and Priorities

What is my absolute #1 suggestion to anyone going to a CiscoLive event?  My #1 suggestion regardless if it is your first CiscoLive ever, or like me, your 17th.  My #1 suggestion is – “Begin with the End in Mind“.

  1. Know what your priorities are and then schedule your week accordingly.
  2. Review your priorities for the week during the week multiple times a day
    1. before the day begins
    2. at lunch
    3. at the end of the day

Begin with the End in Mind. Why?  Because, at CiscoLive, there are so many more things to do than you will have time to fit in.   I personally believe it helps to have a priorities list Continue reading

Ready for CiscoLive Barcelona? Woot! Woot! See ya there!

In less than 2 weeks CiscoLive Europe 2018 will be in full swing!  And, as usual, I am so incredibly excited!  ?  This happens to me before every CiscoLive…. round about two weeks prior to the start of the event.  I just turn into a super excited little kid.  Like a little kid looking forward to going back to their favorite summer camp.  ?   I’m even already mostly packed.  Teehee.

CiscoLive Barcelona – Plans and Priorities

What is my absolute #1 suggestion to anyone going to a CiscoLive event?  My #1 suggestion regardless if it is your first CiscoLive ever, or like me, your 17th.  My #1 suggestion is – “Begin with the End in Mind“.

  1. Know what your priorities are and then schedule your week accordingly.
  2. Review your priorities for the week during the week multiple times a day
    1. before the day begins
    2. at lunch
    3. at the end of the day

Begin with the End in Mind. Why?  Because, at CiscoLive, there are so many more things to do than you will have time to fit in.   I personally believe it helps to have a priorities list Continue reading

Fish Gets a New Job: “Solutions Architect”

Many of the best things that have happened in my life weren’t planned.  ?  Becoming a “Solutions Architect” is one of those things.  I didn’t plan it.  I’ve been in CPOC (Customer Proof of Concept) for almost 17 years now.  ?  Why?  Cause truthfully, having fun and enjoying my job is exceedingly important to me.  And I’ve never seen a job (in Cisco or outside) that would be more of an absolute perfect fit for me and what I consider “fun”.

But like I said…. Many of the best things that have happened in my life weren’t planned.  ?

For those of you who know how very much I totally love CPOC… you might be wondering “Fish, what happened that made you decide to look for another job?”.    Uh… nothing.  Like I said… it wasn’t planned.  In fact, i didn’t even interview or apply for the job.

The new job is actually

  • a newly created position in a
  • just created team
  • reporting to an awesome leader
  • with 2 technical playmates I adore (ahem.. sorry.. co-workers)

 

Solutions Architect: What I Will Be Doing

Teehee… well the team literally just came Continue reading

Fish Gets a New Job: “Solutions Architect”

Many of the best things that have happened in my life weren’t planned.  ?  Becoming a “Solutions Architect” is one of those things.  I didn’t plan it.  I’ve been in CPOC (Customer Proof of Concept) for almost 17 years now.  ?  Why?  Cause truthfully, having fun and enjoying my job is exceedingly important to me.  And I’ve never seen a job (in Cisco or outside) that would be more of an absolute perfect fit for me and what I consider “fun”.

But like I said…. Many of the best things that have happened in my life weren’t planned.  ?

For those of you who know how very much I totally love CPOC… you might be wondering “Fish, what happened that made you decide to look for another job?”.    Uh… nothing.  Like I said… it wasn’t planned.  In fact, i didn’t even interview or apply for the job.

The new job is actually

  • a newly created position in a
  • just created team
  • reporting to an awesome leader
  • with 2 technical playmates I adore (ahem.. sorry.. co-workers)

 

Solutions Architect: What I Will Be Doing

Teehee… well the team literally just came Continue reading

Certifications: Why I Like Them, How I Use Them and My Plan for Security Learning

The other day Daniel Dib (http://lostintransit.se) asked me an interview question.  The question was about certifications.  What do I think about them…. and are they losing their “value”.

Poor certifications.  People question their value.  Of course “value” typically means for many what can the cert “do” for you once you have it.  People also get so judgemental of others for “collecting” them.  And yes… when I was younger I was, admittedly, one of those people who looked down on people I viewed as “cert collectors”.  Poor poor certifications.  In every area certifications exist they can get a bad rep.  IT industry, Scuba Diving, .. heck even in girl scouts when there was always that one girl who wanted to try to get every possible girl scout badge.  ?

Why I Like Them and How I Use Them

In 2012 my view on certs changed.  I realized I could use them to my advantage to help me organize my learning by making goals and signing up for certs.   You see, back in 2010 I had bought a few books about Wireshark by Laura Chappel and told myself I would make Continue reading

Certifications: Why I Like Them, How I Use Them and My Plan for Security Learning

The other day Daniel Dib (http://lostintransit.se) asked me an interview question.  The question was about certifications.  What do I think about them…. and are they losing their “value”.

Poor certifications.  People question their value.  Of course “value” typically means for many what can the cert “do” for you once you have it.  People also get so judgemental of others for “collecting” them.  And yes… when I was younger I was, admittedly, one of those people who looked down on people I viewed as “cert collectors”.  Poor poor certifications.  In every area certifications exist they can get a bad rep.  IT industry, Scuba Diving, .. heck even in girl scouts when there was always that one girl who wanted to try to get every possible girl scout badge.  ?

Why I Like Them and How I Use Them

In 2012 my view on certs changed.  I realized I could use them to my advantage to help me organize my learning by making goals and signing up for certs.   You see, back in 2010 I had bought a few books about Wireshark by Laura Chappel and told myself I would make Continue reading

Security with Fish: My First Couple Months

In late June I wrote Security Here I Come!  The transition wasn’t quite as fast as I thought it would be.  🙂   But for the past couple months I’ve been able to really start digging in.

My initial response after watching just 2 CiscoLive VoDs?  FEAR!

I really enjoyed these sessions a great deal!!  They were the absolute perfect eye-opener to me!

Neil Lovering had the “Verizon Data Breach Report” in his slides (below).

Its funny because I have seen it before.  To be completely honest I have seen it quite a number of times.  But it was just something about how he presented it.  He got past my not wanting to really “hear” about the risk and the danger and the reality of the security landscape in the world around us.  I paused the VoD on this slide…. paused it and just really took the time to take it all in.

My reaction to this slide?  Lol. This is when the fear began.  Two simple facts on the Continue reading

Security with Fish: My First Couple Months

In late June I wrote Security Here I Come!  The transition wasn’t quite as fast as I thought it would be.  ?   But for the past couple months I’ve been able to really start digging in.

My initial response after watching just 2 CiscoLive VoDs?  FEAR!

I really enjoyed these sessions a great deal!!  They were the absolute perfect eye-opener to me!

Neil Lovering had the “Verizon Data Breach Report” in his slides (below).

Its funny because I have seen it before.  To be completely honest I have seen it quite a number of times.  But it was just something about how he presented it.  He got past my not wanting to really “hear” about the risk and the danger and the reality of the security landscape in the world around us.  I paused the VoD on this slide…. paused it and just really took the time to take it all in.

My reaction to this slide?  Lol. This is when the fear began.  Two simple facts on the Continue reading

My Career Planning: A Ride-Along

About a year ago I shared with you (Thinking Out Loud: My Career Planning) a little about my yearly career planning process.  This time I’m going to bring you on a ride-along of this year’s annual Career Planning exercise.

First and foremost I must answer a common question that I was asked a lot after last year’s blog.

The Dream Job Question: 

“Why do you even bother with the yearly career planning process? You are always saying that CPOC is your dream job come true”

Yes. Without a doubt CPOC really is my absolute dream job come true!  I consider myself so truly fortunate, blessed and lucky to still be here with CPOC.  Rocking 16 1/2 years with CPOC and the CPOC family at Cisco!

So that all being said… why do I still review every year?  Like I mentioned in last year’s blog “over the years what I’ve seen is that my 1 year plan, 3 year plan, 5 year plan and 10 year plans have changed as I have changed.”  So then reviewing every year is just taking the time to “check in” that the job I’m in is not Continue reading

Woot! Passed My CCDE Recert (2nd Attempt)

Friday, August 18th was the day. Yup. Just last week.   My 2nd attempt at the CCDE written to re-certify my 3 “Es”.  To say I was nervous would very much be a decided understatement.  I don’t think I have ever been so nervous to take a Cisco written exam ever before.  Seriously ever before.

It’s funny… in all these years of taking the recert exams… I pretty much have always had the same pattern and same view on it.  My pattern usually is to take the 1st attempt 6-9 months before my 2 years is slated to be up.  My view on it has always been that of “time to refresh my broader knowledge again” and make it deep again.  There is that old adage “if you don’t use it you lose it”.   Teehee… yeah… that is typically IS-IS for me.  🙂

My view this time around was different.  And given that my first CCIE was from 1997…. this change in view was a surprise to me.  My view was more of it being something I “had to do” instead of “wanted to do”.

Why?  Because for the first Continue reading

Change in the Work Place: Attitude Can Be Everything

Change in the work place can be hard, unsettling, uncomfortable and… oh screw it… let’s just say it…. Change in the work place can just be down right scary when we are in the midst of it. 

I’m 52 so I’ve been through a lot of changes in my work environment over the years.  Since I’m a control freak it likely isn’t much of a shock that work changes like taking on a new job in a new company or new department aren’t the ones that I have the hardest time with.  I can see that this is because I feel like I’m the one who initiated the change in those situations.  I made the decision to move to that new company, job, or department.  I interviewed for it.  I felt it “called to me”.

But change in the work place is change in the work place.  Whether it is me initiating the change… or the change being “done to me”.  So why does a large re-organization in the same company feel scarier to me than me going to a new job at a new company?  They are both change.  Continue reading

“Focusing on the Gift” (aka How Fish views Presenting)

CiscoLive starts today and so do my presentations.  If you have ever wondered what I’m thinking about right prior to a presentation…. I am imagining a small and beautifully wrapped gift that I want to give to each and every person in the audience. That is what I am doing.  I am “Focusing on the Gift”.

Have I always done that?  LOL.  Uh… no.  But fortunately I don’t think my 2006 Networkers presentation on EIGRP is available on video.   Otherwise I think I’d be truly embarrassed.  Why?  Because it was my first Networkers/CiscoLive presentation and I was beyond belief nervous.  Worried if I’d do okay… worried if you were enjoying the session… oh the list goes on and on as to everything I was thinking and worried about.

And then I realized something.  You know what? It really isn’t about me at all.  I am just a vehicle.  It is all about “The Gift”.  So in 2007 I went out and bought a tiny little Christmas tree sized ornament of a perfectly wrapped gift box.  Small enough that I could hide it up on the stage Continue reading

Security Here I Come!

The announcement has been made!  It is completely official!  I can finally share the awesome great news I am so excited about.  Security will be my absolute #1 focus now. 

Security has always fascinated me.  My entire career.  ….. It’s just that the fundamentals of routing and design intrigued me even more.  🙂

But now?  Yeah baby!  Now I get to flip a switch… dive into and completely surround myself with all things Security.  And I just could not be any more tickled pink and excited.  I feel like all my years of networking have been a build up towards this.

Am I leaving my CPOC lab and job I adore so much?  Nah… I’d go through withdrawal.  LOL.  Nah… wouldn’t be pretty.  It is just my role that will be changing.

Woot woot!  Security here I come!  ROCK!

 

 

 

 

My Cisco Live 2017 Schedule

It is that time once again.  CiscoLive 2017 – Summer Camp for Geeks!  This will be my 15th CiscoLive/Networkers. What is my absolute #1 suggestion to anyone going to a CiscoLive event?  Easy – “Begin with the End in Mind“.  Know what your priorities are and then schedule your week accordingly.

So… here you go.  My CiscoLive (CLUS) priorities and schedule for the week.

  • Teach
  • Recharge
  • Learn
  • Play and Have Fun

 

CCIE/CCDE Re-certification: An Opportunity to Learn and Grow

I did not pass my CCDE re-certification last week.  Why write a blog about a “failure”?  Honestly?  Because I think we as an IT industry overly focus and give too many kudos to the passing only.  Not to the hours and hours of studying and learning… not to the lessons learned… not to the growth gained from the studying journey.  Just to the “pass/fail”.  Well damn… no wonder people cheat.  Their focus isn’t on the learning or the journey.  Just the passing.

I thoroughly believe the expression –

Sometimes you win….. Sometimes you learn.

Did I want to pass last week?  ROFL!  Are you kidding?  Of course I did!  Did I “deserve” to pass?  Well…. um…. err… not exactly.

See that 10% at the bottom of the “Written Exam Topics v2.1?”   Truth be told I didn’t quite exactly study that part very much.

So what is my plan now?

LEARN

Honestly in my job I am not doing much Cloud, SDN, or IoT.  AND I have to admit I am quite happy I am now essentially forced to learn these to a Continue reading

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