NAC Books

I purchased this book for each and every one of my cousins that has graduated high school and college since last year, and they all love it. It is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read! I'm truly surprised that its not all over the NY Times bestsellers lists! Thank you so much Jennifer!

My mom bought this book for me for my early graduation present. She thought it looked like something I needed to take to college. She was right. This book to me is the best present anyone could have ever given me. It has sooo much in it. The famous pros in this book truly touch ones soul, and warm the heart. There is a passage in there about mothers and daughters that really made me cry. There are other passages that made me laugh, because they related so well to me. I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a graduation present, it truly is the best!!!!!!!!!!

As a teacher for more than twenty years, I have watched many seniors prepare for graduation. In my own teaching, I have helped to prepare my own students for this transition through the writing and reading they do. However, I have never found a book that provides that crucial "stepping stone" as well as Selig's does. It's simply terrific. I am especially impressed by the diversity of her sources of inspiration: from the writing of students to those of professional writers, both past and present,this book offers its readers a rich mine of ideas. My only regret is the subtitle which targets this book as a book for graduation. It is certainly that, but it would be a great gift for anyone who is taking a next big step of any kind -- moving on from a death or a divorce,beginning a new career, etc.

Boy, this is a terrific book. I would highly recommend it for all readers young and old... we're all are graduating continuously from one stage or other in our lives, so even those of us who have left school a long time ago can benefit from its wisdom. Kudos to Ms. Selig for an excellent job done.

When I first recieved a copy of what now? I must say it wasn't what I had expected. Though After reading through it, I thought to myself now here's a book that shine's with inspiration. I was so glad that I had gotten the words and wisdom that I needed from so many different resources. Not only was it the inspiration but the being able to reflect upon my experiences with those that were shared in the book. I would definetely recomend that not only seniors who are graduating from high school get a copy but also those who thrive off of daily inspiration, this is the book for you!

I found this to be a very useful book if you are interested in developing a cohesive and viable NAC policy and creating sound and effective NAC enforcement. NAC is a hot buzz-word right now and very few companies have a real handle on how to make use it. This book goes a long way toward separating fact from fiction and making NAC an effectie piece of network security.

Over the last couple years NAC has moved from being a niche solution and is becoming a mainstream requirement for enterprise organizations. This creates a new set of skills for the network engineer to master. Unfortunately there have been few resources for self study, until now. This book provides everything you need to get started with NAC, weather you are just evaluating the technology or rolling out a full deployment. Get this book and you will have the skills that are sure to be a requirement of any network engineer in the very near future.

Why this book?

1. Credible - The authors field experience with NAC is evident as you read the book. This wasn't written in some ivory tower, these are folks who work on the technology with real world customers every day.

2. Comprehensive - ROI, design options, best practices, configuration examples, troubleshooting. Weather you are evaluating, implementing, or deploying there is something for everyone.

3. Concise - Weighing in at 576 pages it's hardly a short book, however give the amount of ground covered I would call it concise. The book is light on filler material, and since it isn't a certification guide there is anything in there just because it's on the test. Everything in this book is about how to get the job done.

To summarize... I highly recommend this book. Pick up a copy and get up to speed on this fast growing technology.

The Cisco Self Securing Network platform is currently structured around several cornerstone technologies of which the Cisco Clean Access technology is a leading component. The Cisco Clean Access technology is one of several industry wide Network Admission Control (NAC) technologies which rely on a combination of client-server components. The Cisco Clean Access suite includes a client component which could be host-installed applet or a browser based applet that can read basic configuration data from a host machine and communicate compliance to enterprise defined rules/policies which are pre-defined on a clean access server appliance and other coorperating systems. The book, Cisco NAC Appliance is a good guide for administrators deploying this complex set of solutions brought from Perfigo Inc. after Perfigo's acquisition by Cisco 2006.

The book's organization and tone is aimed at security architects, security managers and security administrators. While a security architect will better understand the various deployment options and thus the place of the Cisco NAC framework in an enterprise, security managers will get a comprehensive enough view of the Cisco NAC framework to make the judgment call on actual deployment of the infrastructure and of course make decisions on cost/facility and better grapple with the potential cost benefit requests from enterprise's executive and the security administrator will have a quick guide handbook to help wade through the myriads of documentations from Cisco on its evolving SAFE architecture in general and the NAC framework in particular.

The organization of this book is excellent for the intended audience; six parts covering the basics of host security landscape, design of Cisco NAC appliance, developing a host security policy, the Cisco NAC configuration, some deployment best practices, and of course NAC appliance maintenance and troubleshooting. The six parts are laid out in fifteen accessible chapters spanning more than 500 pages with generous amount of configuration examples and screenshots.

With Cisco now having more than 45% market share in the endpoint access control market, books like these can only increase in importance as a guide to organizations grappling with the decision on what and where to deploy these technologies.

And for this volume, the taste of the pudding remains in the eating. So if you don't have a copy yet, go grab one (so long as you are interested in some endpoint security solutions now or at some point in the future). As for rating, I'll give it my best rating so far, four star out of five.

I want to start out by saying that this book completely exceeded my expectations for the first NAC Appliance book. I wish this was published 3 years ago. The author clearly articulates the business benefits of NAC, including how NAC provides return on investment (ROI), which gives any reader the know-how to wisely purchase Cisco NAC Appliance. He also shows his technical expertise by diving extremely deep into the inner workings of Cisco NAC Appliance, which gives engineers, consultants, and operations the information they need to successfully deploy or maintain the product.

This book shows great details into the process flows of In-Band & Out-of-Band users, Clean Access Agent (CAA) users and network scanning users. The information on the different deployment options and how to use them in diverse environments is great to start your NAC Design. This book makes the confusing topics seem easy and manageable.

Some of the highlights that caught my eye and I thought everyone would like were:

- Chapter on Host Security Policy - An amazing deal of information on how to design/create a Host Security Policy as it relates to NAC Appliance is invaluable to deployments

- Exploration of High Availability and Load Balancing - Information on how to load balance Clean Access Servers using the CSM, CSS, ACE and PBR cannot be found anywhere else. This includes saving money on Failover Bundles by using N+1 Failover

- Layer 3 OOB Deployment options - Walk through of the benefits of the different methods of deploying L3 OOB, e.g. PBR, ACLS, VPNs, etc.

- Deployment Best Practices - An entire chapter on how to plan, schedule, and keep all parties happy for your NAC Appliance deployment

- Monitoring & Troubleshooting information - detailed list of all logs located on the CAM and CAS, as well as the information on how to troubleshoot and monitor online users

All in all this is a great book and I would recommend it for all people interested in Buying, Deploying, Operating, or Troubleshooting Cisco NAC Appliance. This is definitely a great reference manual to have at your desk!

I read this years ago for a college English class. Sure wish I'd had an edition like this to help me comprehend it better.
Notes from the Penguin Classics website: "Piers the Ploughman, a blending of prophecy and satirical comedy, is the great representative English poem of the late Middle Ages.
The work of an obscure fourteenth-century cleric, Piers the Ploughman is concerned with the largest of all poetic themes, the meaning of man's life in relation to his ultimate destiny. This spiritual allegory is set against a colorful background of teeming medieval life between the 'Tower of Truth' and the 'Dungeon of Falsehood'. With an Introduction, Notes and a book-by-book Commentary on the allegory, J.F. Goodridge's modern translation of the poem captures the flavour of Langland's vivid pictures and vernacular expressions."

Langland's masterpiece, "Piers Plowman", is Middle English poetry that uses language that is more opaque that that of Chaucer, while expression ideas that are at the same time less translucent than Chaucer's. Whereas Chaucer writes to entertain and incidentally edify, Langland's writing aims squarely at the reform of society: his poetic genius is ever bent on conveying his message in the most effective ways it can devise. That those ways are diverse, and that the poem entwines itself around the reader's mind with a fine webbing of delicate strands, makes a first acquaintance with this work for the student of Middle English a potent, provocative, but somewhat overpowering experience. Help is needed. Goodridge's translation into modern English beautifully renders the sense of the poem in a direct and lyrical way. This may be contrasted with most verse translations that tend to be glosses rather than translations. Consider one fragment from the prologue: "Ac of the cardinales atte courte that caught of that name / And power presumed in hem a pope to make, / To han that power that Peter hadde inpugnen I nelle: / For in loue and letterure the eleccioun bilongeth -- / Forthi I can and can naught of courte speke more." What are we to make of "can and can naught"? A verse translation by Donaldson renders this as follows: "But as for the cardinals at court that thus acquired their name / And presumed they had power to appoint a pope / Who should have the power that Peter had -- well I'll not impugn them. / For the election belongs to love and to learning: / Therefore I can and cannot speak of court further." No doubt this has merit as poetry, but of what value is it as a translation? Any student could replace the Middle English words with the modern equivalent, and be no better off in understanding the sense of the piece. Consider, on the other hand, Goodridge's prose translation: "But as to those other cardinals at Rome who have assumed the same name, taking upon themselves the appointment of a Pope to posses the power of St. Peter, I will not call them in question. The election of a pope requires both love and learning. There is much more I could say about the Papal Court, but it is not for me to say it." While one may disagree with Goodridge's interpretations, one is never in doubt as to what they are. His prose is perfectly lucid, and often poetic. This is a wonderful introduction to Piers Plowman, and the notes and commentary that accompany the translation further enhance the value of this book, and serve even more as a key to unlocking the gates to this magical poem.

The poem of 'Piers the Ploughman' is often considered to be anonymously composed, as the name William Langland was less an authorial designation as it was an inscription on the back of a manuscript - it would be as if I would be assigned the authorship of the O.E.D. because, in some future time, the only remaining copy was missing the title pages, but still had the hard-cover with my 'ex libris' impression on it. Be that as it may, Langland is considered at least as likely an author as any other, and becomes a sort of stand-in, an 'everyman' for his time period. A few details of this Langland are known - he was a wanderer, a constant reviser (the poem goes through several revisions that scholars have designated as texts A, B, and C (and some argue for Z). This is not a spiritual autobiography, as J.F. Goodridge states in his introduction, but there are no doubt autobiographical elements in the text. That the lead character is named 'Will' helps in this identification.

This poem stands alongside Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' as one of the great products of Middle English; this also has the character of being a different sort of Middle English than Chaucer's more courtly, continental influenced variety. Thus, it gives breadth to the history of the English language. Goodridge ranks Langland as a great English poet on a par with Spenser, Milton, Wordsworth and Yeats, as representative of his age both in topics as well as language facility.

This epic poem deals with themes familiar for the time - like Dante and Milton, Langland deals with the grand ideas of the meaning of life and the destiny of humankind. However, unlike Dante and Milton, Will and Piers the Ploughman do not go through a mystical, otherworldly adventure or journey, but rather stays rooted to the earth. These are dream sequences, but these too need not be otherworldly - they are things that can happen to every person. The ideas of the seven deadly sins, the virtues, the church, and the images of heaven and hell are very much rooted to regular society images of the same. The discussion of the allegorical characters, aptly named Do-Well, Do-Better, and Do-Best, does much for the moral teaching of this poem, which would have been of primary concern to the author.

Langland's text is often more Old English than Chaucerian in ways. It is far more alliterative, a strong component taken from Old English. Also, it is less metrical in rhythm than Chaucer - there is a pause in each line akin to older English poetry, but the metre is less secure.

There is much to dispute in Goodridge's introductory essay and notes, because this is that kind of text that invites such disputation. There are over 50 non-related texts of the poem that have survived the Middle Ages, that vary from minor to major changes throughout. Reconciling these is rather like attempting to reconcile the gospels of the Bible, and then adding to that task the discovery of other non-canonical gospels. It leads to rich discussion, but less agreement.

Goodridge does a good job at introducing the text and translating the text into a prose style. The one drawback of this is that the sense of the poem is lost. However, as an introduction and student/study version of the epic, it is a good text. The notes are generous and useful.

This is one of the classics of English literature, perhaps the least known among them.

The first volume for Cisco Network Admission Control series explains the architecture, design and components for NAC Framework. The second volume explains the production deployment as well as troubleshooting NAC Framework to build a self-defending network.

I found the second volume more helpful and practical as it provides technical configuration and implementation guidelines. The book is basically divided into four parts: NAC Framework solution Overview, Configuration Guidelines, Deployment Scenarios and finally Managing and Monitoring NAC.

I think that the first chapter is the most important as it explains the NAC Framework solution overview and the components needed to support it. It shows which Cisco network access devices and which Cat or Cisco IOS version support this feature. It explains the difference among NAC-L3-IP, NAC-L2-IP and NAC-L2-802.1X. The chapter includes Cisco online reference so readers can research each device in details and get the most up-to-date list of all Cisco NAC-enabled devices.

The next 11 chapters cover installation, configuration and brief troubleshooting tips for each component: Cisco Trust Agent, VPN Concentrator, ASA and PIX firewall, Cisco Security Agents and even some brief introductions for third party vendor appliances such as QualysGuard Scanner for audit servers.

The following 3 chapters describe the deployment scenario for NAC in small, medium and large businesses. These chapters offer 3 interesting scenarios but all of them are just recaps of configuration mentioned in previous chapters.

The last 2 chapters explain the NAC deployment best practices and NAC monitoring using Cisco CsMARS. The best practices provide guidelines to roll this NAC deployment successfully by completing a readiness assessment of the current infrastructure, identifying responsible party, building lab and test plans as well as tuning and post deployment monitoring. Having experiences in deploying security projects, I believe that they should also add organization security policy which is approved by top management for NAC deployment best practices. This policy will help to remove any major obstacles encountered from end users.

I found this book very helpful in explaining Cisco NAC Framework. The book is definitely not for beginners as understanding of Cisco configuration and familiarity with Cisco products are needed to understand this.

NAC Framework is not for everyone. If you run a Cisco centric shop with the latest hardware and software, this NAC Framework is for you to build the self-defending network on top of your Cisco network and host based IPS, firewall, 802.1X enabled network access devices and others. If not, a much simpler Cisco Clean Access or other third party NAC appliance can probably do the job with less complicated configuration and upfront investment.

The book does not mention anything about Cisco NAC Framework integration or configuration with the new Microsoft NAP (Network Access Protection) although Cisco has officially provided the plan to do this in its web site.

In conclusion, the author has provided a very concise and understandable reading with the few number of pages provided. Each chapter goes straight to the topics, explains in an easy to follow manner, provides a lot of configuration examples and screenshots and closes with online references.

I liked this book a lot and certainly will recommend others to read this. I gave the book five out of five stars.

It is generally believed that the biggest problems in network security come from the outside, but only sometimes is this true. The biggest loses tend to come from the inside. The people inside your company or organization know more about what there is to steal, how to create the most damage, and furthermore may feel that they have a direct reason to be angry and wanting to cause deliberate damage.

The second part of the problem is that todays organizations may have huge networks with many different areas to be protected from many different kinds of people, coming into the systems from many areas withing the organization including other facilities, suppliers, customers, remote salesmen, travelling executives, etc.

Cisco NAC Architecture and Design, the first volume in this series covers the protocols, design concepts, networking structure - in general the higher level preliminary setup of the NAC.

This volume covers the nuts and bolts of the actual installation and management of the Cisco NAC and the integration of the NAC into other Cisco components such as: VPN, ASA, PIX and more.

I initially ordered the wrong edition of this text (Lesson: Be VERY careful when making your purchases from Amazon; note the correct edition of your text! I inadvertently ordered the 5th instead of 6th edition of this book) needless to say I was frantic to get the 6th edition in order to be able to fully participate in the History class I'd taken. The book came overnight and all was again well with the world... Or at least MY world anyway!

In this anthology, Chafe and Sitkoff have collected a number of articles that are critical in understanding the major issues in American history during the past 50 years. Despite the broad thematic scope of essays--ranging from post-war foreign policy to the creation of an "urban underclass" during the Reagan administration--the organization and careful editing of the book provide the reader with a clear understanding of America's recent sociopolitical transitions. The lucid and well-written individual essays, submitted by leading historians and well-known political figures, work particularly well alongside the documents and commentaries they are paired with.

This book is simply outstanding for anybody who has an interest in how the military manages media relations or who wants a different perspective on the Vietnam War. An abridgement of Hammond's two-volume set, this book is still packed with details covering the war from start to finish, providing lessons that remain relevant for today's changing battlefield. As one who is involved in media relations for a living, there's hardly a page in the book that isn't highlighted for future reference. And as one who has read several books on Vietnam, covering everything from tactical operations to strategic objectives, this book put the war in perspective for me as no other book has. However, as I was pouring over every page and sharing what I learned with those around me, one of my colleagues said he had read it as well and found it one of the most laborious books he had ever opened. So perhaps it is not for everybody, but it's a book I will return to again and again as I continue to study the unique relationship forged between the military and the media. And I am also ordering the two-volume set so I can find the even greater detail that was left out of this book.

This is a terrifically important analysis of the way the military and the press interacted during the Vietnam War. Mr. Hammond covers most of the important media events and reports important details of the statements and actions of those in the government and the military as well as those in the press. He also provides keen insight into the implications of those interactions and the effects they hand on later events.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I wish I could give it six stars. It is a book that anyone who wants to understand anything at all about the Vietnam War simply has to read. The articles in the two volumes of the Library of America series provide valuable background for this book and I think they should be read first. But even without them any reader would get a great deal from this book.

There are nearly fifty pages of notes, and index, and a generous number of pictures of the main events and participants. Just a wonderful achievement. Thanks to Mr. Hammond!

Hamilton is a young, energized Asst-Professor. His research into the subject is not one of years of experience, but rather clinical research. It is a unique book.

This book does not cover the ecclesiology, starting from Pentecost, as most authors of the Holy Spirit usually do. It starts with the Holy Spirit, God's own Spirit, in the OT. It describes how, in the time of the Theocracy, God ruled thru His chosen judges, kings and prophets by anointing them literally.

Yet with the advent of Christ, the Messiah, God's 'Anointed One', the literal anointing no longer exists (and neither does the Theocracy!)and the spirit-aspect of the new life of believers is brought into proper perspective. This process, and its unique godly origin, known as the 'indwelling' is made clear to the reader. Implications regarding the 'anointing' now dwelling in us, empowering us, as opposed to being sought for as a special second blessing, are discussed in view of the fallacious teaching on the Holy Spirit prevalent in charismatic and pentecostal churches today. As John Murray acutely diagnosed the problem: 'and not the beggarly notion of second blessing...' ! (Romans 12:2)

'Do not take your Holy Spirit from me.' Psalm 51:1
'David has witnessed the Spirit and the kingship being taken from Saul when he sinned. He pleads that the same not happen to him.' pg 33

'Under the new covenant, God would not have a tribe of priests ministering to the rest of His people, but His people as a whole would be a kingdom of priests (see Exod 19:6; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6). In these respects it may be said that there is discontinuity between the old and new covenants. There is continuity, however, in that the Spirit has been active in the lives of believers under both covenants.' pg 76

'His anointing as the Messiah occurred when the Spirit came down upon Him. John 1:32-34' pg 111

A thematic and Reformed reference work that I will turn to repeatedly for illumination.

A formal review of this book appears in the July, 1996, issue of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register

Intriguing, insightful analysis of US-European relations in the post war era

I found this book to be invaluable in helping me to train my two dogs--one, a puppy, and one, a stubborn hound. It also helped me to understand and train myself and how I relate to my dogs. The language is cute and lively too. Filled with excellent advice, in an easy-to-read format, without having to wade through extraneous stuff that fills so many dog training books.