Here are the million-and-one essential details network managers must know, but won't learn in school! The skills of a network manager can literally make or break a company, yet most enter their job completely unprepared. While most schools and references are limited to teaching networking technologies, this Handbook explains life on the line with all the daily operations involved in running a business-scale network, and being a corporate officer at the same time. The author covers everything from strategic planning to documentation, retrofitting, and "managing up."

-- Written in terms of real platforms, real products, and real budgets

-- Explains why design is one-half the battle and implementation the other half

-- Things never covered in the classroom: vendor repair and return policies, calculating "true cost," staff scheduling, downsizing, operating the help desk, asset identification, and more

-- Thoroughly explains contingency planning, security tactics, purchasing policies, and network integration

-- Covers LAN and WAN restoration planning