Question

What will be your recommendation and why? Should CDP be enabled? Should it be enabled on all devices and interfaces? How will you convince your customers that your decision is the best one and they should abide by it, even the IT architects?

Answer 1

• My recommendation would be to enable CDP on all devices and interfaces. CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) is a proprietary networking protocol used by Cisco devices to share information about other directly connected Cisco equipment, including device type, uptime, IOS version, and IP address. This information is useful for troubleshooting and network management purposes.

• There are several reasons why I believe CDP should be enabled on all devices and interfaces:

1. Improved network visibility: By enabling CDP on all devices and interfaces, you can get a complete picture of your network and how different devices are connected. This can help you identify issues and make informed decisions about network changes.
2. Simplified troubleshooting: CDP can provide valuable information about the devices and connections in your network, which can help you quickly identify and resolve issues.
3. Better security: CDP can be used to identify rogue devices on your network, which can help you maintain network security and prevent unauthorized access.

• To convince customers that enabling CDP is the best decision, I would emphasize the benefits listed above and provide examples of how CDP has helped other organizations improve their network visibility, simplify troubleshooting, and enhance security. I would also reassure them that CDP is a Cisco proprietary protocol and is not accessible to external parties, so there is no risk of sensitive information being shared. Overall, I believe that enabling CDP on all devices and interfaces is a wise investment that will pay off in the long run.