Cisco LAN Switching Fundamentals

Cisco LAN Switching Fundamentals

by David Barnes - CCIE No. 6563, Basir Sakandar - CCIE No. 6040
Released July 2004
Publisher(s): Cisco Press
ISBN: 9781587050893

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Book description

The essential guide for understanding Ethernet switched networks

  • Understand various Ethernet technologies from 10BASE-T to Gigabit Ethernet

  • Learn about common switching modes, paths, and architectures

  • Delve into the Cisco Catalyst switch architecture and examine the various Catalyst switch models, including the 6000/6500, 4500, and 3750

  • Become familiar with VLAN concepts, including types of trunks, VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP), and private VLANs

  • Understand Multilayer Switching (MLS) and the various hardware components that make MLS work

  • Learn how to configure Cisco Catalyst switches in both native and hybrid mode

  • Implement QoS on Cisco Catalyst switches

  • Deploy multicast features and protocols, including PIM, IGMP snooping, and CGMP

  • Utilize data link layer features such as BPDU Guard, BPDU Filter, Root Guard, Loop Guard, RSTP, and MST

  • Evaluate design and configuration best practices

  • Learn how to manage LANs and troubleshoot common problems

    • Local-area networks (LANs) are becoming increasingly congested and overburdened because of a dramatic increase in traffic, faster CPUs and operating systems, and more network-intensive applications. Many organizations that use network and computing technology use LAN switching to take advantage of high-speed traffic forwarding and improved performance of traditional Ethernet technologies that don't require costly wiring upgrades or time-consuming host reconfiguration. Cisco LAN Switching Fundamentals provides administrators of campus networks with the most up-to-date introduction to LAN switching within a traditional Ethernet environment.

    Cisco LAN Switching Fundamentals presents an in-depth look at modern campus network requirements. It provides an easy-to-understand introduction to LAN switching best practices using Cisco Catalyst switches. This book provides you with a wealth of details on the architecture, operation, and configuration of the Cisco Catalyst family of switches. You learn about a wide range of topics, including quality of service (QoS), multicast, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), Multiple Spanning Tree (MST), private virtual LANs (VLANs), and configuration using the native and hybrid software interfaces. Design advice and configuration examples are discussed liberally throughout the book to provide you with the best perspective on effective deployment techniques. Finally, the book wraps up with a discussion of steps necessary to troubleshoot common problems and optimize LAN performance.

    Whether you are looking for an introduction to LAN switching principles and practices or a Cisco Catalyst configuration and troubleshooting reference, this book provides you with the invaluable insight you need to design and manage high-performance campus networks.

    Table of contents

    1. Copyright
    2. About the Authors
    3. Acknowledgments
    4. Command Syntax Conventions
    5. Introduction
    6. LAN Switching Foundation Technologies
      1. OSI Model
      2. Introducing Ethernet
      3. Transparent Bridging
      4. Broadcasts and Multicasts
      5. Introducing Spanning Tree Protocol
      6. Summary
    7. LAN Switch Architecture
      1. Receiving Data—Switching Modes
      2. Switching Data
      3. Buffering Data
      4. Oversubscribing the Switch Fabric
      5. Congestion and Head-of-Line Blocking
      6. Forwarding Data
      7. Summary
    8. Catalyst Switching Architectures
      1. In the Beginning—Catalyst 5000/5500 (Project Synergy)
      2. Catalyst 6000/6500 (Constellation, Constellation+, and Constellation II)
      3. Catalyst 4500 (Galaxy 3 and Galaxy 4) Components and Architectures
      4. Catalyst 3750 (Lord of the Rings) Components and Architecture
      5. Comparing the Architectures
      6. Summary
    9. Layer 2 Fundamentals
      1. Understanding Legacy LAN Segment
      2. Introducing Virtual LANs
      3. Trunking Methods
      4. VLAN Trunking Protocol
      5. Configuring VTP/VLAN/Trunk
      6. VLAN Pruning
      7. EtherChannel
      8. Understanding VLAN 1
      9. Private VLANs
      10. Summary
    10. Using Catalyst Software
      1. Hybrid Versus Native
      2. Downloading Catalyst Software
      3. New Software Packaging
      4. Summary
    11. Understanding Multilayer Switching
      1. Why MLS?
      2. Introducing MLS
      3. Understanding the MLS Packet Flow
      4. Configuring MLS
      5. Router Access Lists
      6. MLS on Catalyst 6500
      7. Understanding the Need for Cisco Express Forwarding
      8. Summary
    12. Configuring Switches
      1. An Ounce of Planning
      2. Configuration Overview
      3. Initial Configuration
      4. Connecting the Switches
      5. Configuring the Access Layer
      6. Configuring SNMP
      7. Summary
    13. Understanding Quality of Service on Catalyst 6500
      1. QoS Services
      2. Class of Service
      3. Type of Service
      4. QoS Operational Model
      5. QoS Caveats
      6. Summary
    14. Implementing Multicast on Catalyst Switches
      1. Understanding IGMPv1 and IGMPv2
      2. Multicast Flooding
      3. IGMP Snooping
      4. Cisco Group Management Protocol
      5. IGMP Snooping Versus CGMP
      6. Summary
    15. Implementing and Tuning Spanning Tree
      1. Preventing Loops with Spanning Tree
      2. Spanning-Tree Convergence
      3. Introducing Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
      4. Understanding Multiple Spanning Tree
      5. UniDirectional Link Detection
      6. Summary
    16. Design and Implementation Best Practices
      1. Layer 3 Designs
      2. Building Blocks
      3. Campus Design
      4. Catalyst Supervisor and Switch Fabric Redundancy
      5. Summary
    17. Troubleshooting the LAN Switching Configuration
      1. Checking Software Versions
      2. Checking Hardware Components
      3. Understanding Port Errors
      4. Using Syslog Messages
      5. Using Trace
      6. Local Switched Port Analyzer
      7. Remote Switched Port Analyzer
      8. Cisco Online Resources
      9. Summary
    18. Catalyst 6500 Series Software Conversion
      1. Automated Conversion Tools
      2. Manual Conversion from Hybrid to Native
      3. Manual Conversion from Native to Hybrid
      4. Summary
    19. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Cisco LAN Switching Fundamentals
    • Author(s): David Barnes - CCIE No. 6563, Basir Sakandar - CCIE No. 6040
    • Release date: July 2004
    • Publisher(s): Cisco Press
    • ISBN: 9781587050893