Overview
A hands on comprehensive look at Ethernet switches with extensive coverage of VLANs. The course focuses on the technology and not any one manufacturers product enabling delegates to configure switches from any manufacturer.
Prerequisites
Delegates will learn how to
By the end of the course delegates will be able to:
Configure and troubleshoot VLANs.
Configure and troubleshoot switches using:
- Console port
- Telnet
- HTTP
- TFTP
Configure and troubleshoot switch features such as:
- Duplex/speed
- Port based MAC security
- Spanning Tree
- Link aggregation
- Tagged ports
Configure and troubleshoot VLANs.
Outline
What is Ethernet?
LANs, network cards and cables, CSMA/CD, Ethernet frames, Ethernet evolution, 802.3.
Hands on: ping, Ethernet speeds, CSMA/CD.
Ethernet layer 2
Layer 2 functions, NICs, MAC addresses, unicasts, multicasts and broadcasts, frame formats.
Hands on: Configuring NICs, Analysing MAC addresses with Wireshark
IP and Ethernet
Relationship
Hands on: ARP.
What is a switch?
Switches connect multiple devices, switches versus hubs, simultaneous conversations, switches work at layer 2, the forwarding database, how the forwarding database is built, broadcast and collision domains
Hands on: Difference between hubs and switches.
Switch configuration
Switch configuration Managed/unmanaged switches, configuration methods, reasons to configure switches. Console ports, HyperTerminal (and alternatives).
Hands on: Using the console port to troubleshoot and configure switches.
Switches in more detail
Latency, forwarding mechanisms, switch fabrics.
Hands on: Using telnet and HTTP to switches.
Ethernet extensions
Auto negotiation, Power over Ethernet.
Hands on:Configuring and troubleshooting switch ports: Speed, duplex and security.
Redundant links
Loops, broadcast storms, STP, BPDU format, STP convergence.
Hands on: Tracking blocked ports. STP convergence.
Backbone links
Architectures, link aggregation, LACP, load sharing, resilience.
Hands on: fail over times.
VLANs
Virtual versus physical LANs, Why have VLANs? Broadcast domains, Creating VLANs, Assigning ports to VLANs.
Hands on: Analysing the effect of VLANs on traffic.
Enterprise VLANs
VLANS are internal, multiple VLANs, Load balancing, Default VLAN, VLAN registration protocols: VTP, GVRP, MVRP.
Hands on: VLANs on multiple switches.
Tagging/Trunking
Reason for tagging, terminology, tagging process, 802.1Q, Tag format, VLAN stacking.
Hands on: Configuring and troubleshooting tags.
STP variants
RSTP, Common STP, Multiple STP, PVST, ring alternatives.
Hands on: RSTP.
Inter VLANs
Layer 3 switching, IP addressing rules, Interconnecting VLANs.
Hands on: Routing between VLANs.
Troubleshooting Ethernet
Methods, tools, locating faults, layer 1 issues, layer 2 issues
Hands on: Fixing the network.
Frequently asked questions
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