What sets Cisco apart from other mainstream network hardware manufacturers is in fact not the hardware at all. It's their software; specifically the operating system that runs the routers and switches referred to as IOS or the Internetwork Operating System.
IOS provides flexibility in managing network devices and provides a staggering plethora of features that sets Cisco equipment in a whole different league. If you can master IOS then you can manage Cisco devices and earn a decent income. When I say master IOS I mean having a good understanding of how it works, how to configure the most important features quickly and how to interpret command output.
Fortunately learning IOS is much easier than people think. Using IOS is the best way to learn it. If you can afford to buy physical equipment go right ahead and do so. If not you can try to get your hands on a network emulator like GNS3 or Packet Tracer.
Once you have your equipment or emulator and you've loaded IOS, the single most important command for you to learn is "?". Thats right, a question mark. The question mark tells you all the possible commands within the context of the IOS mode that you are in and also tells you what each command does. In the case where there are multiple commands that must be strung together to accomplish a task just keep hitting the "?" after each command and it will tell you the next command options available to you and what they do.
Eample:
Setting the clock is so easy because IOS shows me how. This is true of every configuration task in IOS. And in time you'll memorize a large number of commands and command sets.
But don't worry you won't look like a newbie if you use the "?" feature. Even CCIE's use this feature periodically.
So go ahead and get some cheap equipment on ebay and practice, its fun!
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