Advanced IP Network Design (CCIE Professional Development)

The Right Topology

So what's the right topology to use? It's always easier to tackle a problem if it is broken into smaller pieces, and large-scale networks are no exception. You can break a large network into smaller pieces that can be dealt with separately. Most successful large networks are designed hierarchically, or in layers. Layering creates separate problem domains, which focuses the design of each layer on a single goal or set of goals.

This concept is similar to the OSI model, which breaks the process of communication between computers into layers, each with different design goals and criteria. Layers must stick to their design goals as much as possible; trying to add too much functionality into one layer generally ends up producing ...