Cisco ASA

By Reading ANY of this, you agree as follows:
I will not provide Firmware, or answers to questions - You are on your own!!
I will not provide any softwares!!
I will not be held responsible for YOU messing up anything!!
This is for MY Personal Reference!! - That is all - This is not intended for You!!


Note: There are not a lot of links referenced directly to Cisco's site (specific pages) as Cisco changes their site frequently, and links will likely break
If you do not have any Cisco experience; (working with Cisco devices from the command line - asdm, and asm don't count) then likely you will not know the actual basics of networking. If this is the situation, read over the materials for the CCNA as working with upstream equipment will be necessary to properly troubleshoot! The CCNA materials cover the basics of working with Cisco Switches, and Routers, and are the groun basis for using Cisco's products.

Adaptive Security Appliance

This article can also apply to PIX, however it will depend on the firmware on the PIX

Hardware

The ASA has been created based on x86 hardware, utilizing Intel, and AMD processors, with Intel, and Geode ChipSets. They will generally ship with 256MB-12GB RAM depending on the model.
The ASA comes with a USB port for additional Portable Storage for upgrading firmware, or to copy a configuration.

Software

The Cisco ASA does not run IOS technically, although it runs similar to IOS. The software run on the ASA will be known as "PIX code", or "ASA code"[3]
The Firmware used with the ASA has been specifically written for working deeper with packet inspections, specified flow analysis to improve security, improve scalability, and VPN services. The ASA has the option to use the available ASDM GUI interface which was developed to compete with Cisco's competitors.
The ASA is the next generation of three previously developed technologies knows as "PIX", "IPS 4200", & the "VPN 3000 Series Concentrators"[4], and have developed what is known as the "Self Defending Network"[5].

Simulators

A Simulator may be used to test what the ASA is capable of, however not all simulators have actual usability such as DoS, and DDoS mitigation, or VPN tunnel negotiations:

GNS3 - This can be complex to setup for any practical testing, so do beware - OpenSource
ProfSIMs - Closed Source
Boson NETSIM - Closed Source

A few basic commands as this appears to be necessary for the lazy "RTFM"