Welcome to NetworkLessons.com – Our mission is to explain 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.