Adamf533: Jeff, what would you recommend to someone who has been R&S focused for 10-plus years to move towards (specializations)? Storage, voice, etc.?

Jeff_Doyle: Voice is in big demand right now, as is security. And both, I think, are going to grow much more; so lots of opportunities in that area.

CarlC: Along the same lines, as someone who has been in the business a long time, but never specialized: Recommendations on good books or techniques to "fill in the gaps" and "smooth the rough spots"? Voice and security are definitely the way I am pointing.

Jeff_Doyle: Well, I can plug the "books" page on my Web site (www.doyleassociates.net), which below the self-promoting part is a list of my own favorites. Almost all the books on the list are written by people I know and respect, so I'm comfortable recommending them.

BillB28: Any plans for a Routing TCP/IP Volume 3?

Jeff_Doyle: That's a timely question. I would like to do that, and proposed a Volume III to Cisco Press about a year ago. I wanted the volume to focus on MPLS. Unfortunately my editors at Cisco Press tell me the market is flooded with MPLS books and they didn't feel it would sell. I was (and am) thinking of writing a post opening the question to my readers, as to what they would like to see in a Volume III. So let me do a preliminary question just on this chat: What topics would you like to see in a potential "Routing TCP/IP Volume III"?

Moderator_Julie: You can send Jeff ideas for Volume III by posting a comment to his blog.

Raul: Jeff, I came from the server management end of IT and was "forced" to take over the network infrastructure of the business. We are a Nortel shop internally and Cisco externally. Could you recommend one or two good books on corporate routing protocols, i.e., VLANs, Trunking, RIP, OSPF, Spanning Tree, LACP, VRRP, BGP, EAPOL & SNMP/MIBs & RMON, for a quick learner who can digest "logical" concepts readily?

Jeff_Doyle: There's a good Cisco Press book on VLANs and related topics, although I hate to say I can't remember the title at the moment. E-mail me offline and I'll look it up. For routing, I have to recommend my own books.

Niharika: How can I learn more about IPv6? Which books and protocols do you recommend?

Jeff_Doyle: I highly recommend either Merike Kaeo's book Designing Network Security, Second Edition, or Marc Blanchet's book, Migrating to IPv6: A Practical Guide to Implementing IPv6 in Mobile and Fixed Networks. Both are excellent introductions.

Raul: What is the current state of NAC and who are the "real" players? There are so many variants it's hard to get the "big picture."

Moderator-Julie: Good question. We had a chat on this topic a short time ago by security expert Joel Snyder. So I'm going to refer you to that chat transcript. Here's also a link to a product test that Network World did on NAC. Hope that helps.

BillB28: How long will Cisco remain as the dominating force in routing?

Jeff_Doyle: Oooh, provocative. I'm not selling my Cisco stock anytime soon.

Moderator-Julie: So thanks for coming today! Remember to keep reading Jeff's blog on the Cisco Subnet site. Mark your calendars for Nov. 13, 2 p.m. EST, for LAN switch security: What hackers know about your switches with Christopher Paggen, from Cisco. Then join us on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2 p.m. EST, for Greatest Techno-Gifts of the Season, with Cool Tools columnist Keith Shaw.

Jeff_Doyle: Thanks everyone for attending! And certainly submit any more questions you have to me at my blog; always looking for good topics!