CCNA 1: An Introduction to

Networking
Week 03, Unit 04:
Network Cabling & Topology
Planning
 Network Cabling &
Topology Planning
Learning Objectives
• Compare and contrast network media used for LAN and WAN
connectivity by device
• Explain the purpose and use of cabling standards
• Create and test common network cables
• Identify common router and switch ports
• Design various-sized networks based on varying specifications
• Perform the steps to make a direct connection between a PC and a
router using a rollover cable and terminal emulation program

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 Routers

• Routers connect networks together via their

ports
• Each router port represents a different network
• Each router port creates a broadcast domain
• Routers connect any type of network together
• Routers have LAN & WAN interfaces
• LAN interfaces typically accept Ethernet cable
• WAN interfaces vary on connector type
– Serial cable connector
– Cable, DSL, fiber, satellite, T-Carrier

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 Router Visuals

• Router (front view):

• Router (rear view):

DB-60 serial ports LAN ports Smart serial ports

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 Router Cable Examples

• Smart serial cable:  Female end on left

 Male end on right

• Ethernet cable: RJ-45 Jack

• 4-pairs of copper wire
• Like colors twisted
together according to
standard
 Brown, orange,
green, blue
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 DTE or DCE?
• Router with DCE end sets port speed for PPP
connection
– Female end is DCE
• Usually the ISP
• “C” for Communication!
– Male end is DTE
DCE DTE
• Usually your router
• “T” for Terminal!
• More about DTE/DCE later

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 Router Rollover Cable Example

• Rollover cable:
 RJ-45 & DB-9 ends
 DB-9 is female
 Serial Port

• USB to DB-9 cable:

• DB-9 is male
• Interconnector
• USB port
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 Ethernet Cable Basics

• EIA/TIA-568-B standard used today

• Specifies 100 meter maximum distance
– 5 meters from device to wall jack
– 90 meters between wall jacks
– 5 meters from wall jack to patch panel
• Specifies exact 8-wire color order
• EIA/TIA-568-A standard still valid
• Specifies different 8-wire color order than 568-B
• Low cost to make, install, & maintain
• Interference from electricity & small motors
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 Ethernet Cable Technology
• Straight-through cable:
• Typically used to connect devices to switch or router
port
• Both cable ends have same 8-wire 568-B color order
• Crossover cable:
• Typically used to directly-connect two devices without
another device (switch) between them
• One cable end is 568-A & other end is 568-B
• Rollover cable:
• Typically used to connect PC to router/switch console
port
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 Ethernet Cable Types

• Shielded or unshielded twisted pair

• STP more expensive than UTP
• STP used in shops or when cable run near electricity
outlets or electrical cable runs
• RJ-45 jacks shielded too
• Cable categorized by technology
• Category 5e for 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) or slower
• Category 6 for 10 Gbps or slower
• New implementations should use latest cable
category to reduce lifetime cost
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 Straight-through Cable Pinouts

• EIA/TIA 568-B used for straight-through cable

• Can also use 568-A, but is uncommon
• Both ends of cable the same:

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 Straight-through Cable Use

• Used when directly connecting dissimilar

devices to each other
• Examples:
• PC into switch port
• PC into hub port
• Switch to router Ethernet port

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 Crossover Cable Pinouts

• EIA/TIA 568-A and 568-B used for crossover

cable
• One end of cable 568-A, other end is 568-B
• Considered good practice to mark end of each end of
cable with black x near RJ-45 jack

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 Crossover Cable Use

• Used when connecting similar devices to each

other
• Devices directly-connected via NICs
• No switch or hub between them
• Examples:
• PC Ethernet port to PC Ethernet port
• Hub to hub
• Router Ethernet port to Router Ethernet port
• PC Ethernet port to Router Ethernet port
• Switch to switch (vintage switches only though!)
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 Rollover Cable Pinouts

• EIA/TIA 568-B on one end

• Complete rollover of each wire on other end
• Usually called a console or serial cable

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 Rollover Cable Use

• Used when connecting PC Ethernet port to

router or switch console port
• Required for ‘out of the box’ initial configurations
• Console port in top right corner with blue background
• RJ-45 end of rollover cable inserted into console port

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 Making Ethernet Cable

• Need:
• At least two RJ-45 modules (jacks)
– Usually more :>(
• Minimum 2 foot Category 5 or 6 UTP cable
• Copper wire snipping tool
• Module (RJ-45 jack) crimper tool
• Cable testing meter (optional)
• Search YouTube for ‘how to’ video:
– Search term:
» how to make ethernet cable 568b

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 PC to Router Connection

• Rollover cable has RJ-45 on one end & DB-9

female serial port on other end
• Modern laptops no longer provide serial port
• Need USB-to-serial adapter cable & driver
• Join two cables together to form one cable
Console Cable USB-to-serial Cable

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 PC to Router Connection (cont’d)
• Need software installed as middleware between
PC and router or switch
• Software called terminal emulation software
• Emulates or mimics behavior of router or switch via
PC
• Need to download free terminal emulation software
from Internet
– Recommended:
» Tera Term or Putty
» Both are free and easy to use
» Search YouTube for ‘how to’ video
» Search term: connect to router using tera term
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 Configuring Software

• Turn router on first

• Port in top box is USB COM 2

port acting as serial port

• You must manually select
the USB port number
• Need specific serial port
settings in terminal
emulation software
• Press OK to connect to
router & open command-
line window
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 First Router Connection

• Cisco IOS loads & user prompted to select

configuration mode
• Type word no or letter n and press Enter key to
continue
• Press Enter again & type word enable
• Press Enter to move from User mode to Privilege
Exec mode
• Example:

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 Configure the Router!

User Exec:
Router>

Privileged Exec:
Router#

Global Config:
Router(config)#

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 Different Device - Even More!

• Show the running

configuration
 IOS version
 Router name
 Encrypted
passwords
 IP addressing
 SSH access set

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 Ending the Connection

• Reboot the router to log in again

• From Privileged Exec mode, type reload command
and press Enter
• Alternatively, can turn router off using switch on
back
• Close terminal emulation program
• Once router is configured, connect using SSH or
telnet
• Depending on which is configured

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 Basic Network Design

• Hosts in the LAN

– Printers, VoIP phones, surveillance cameras
– Desktop & laptop PCs for all staff
– Servers, switches, & routers (wired & wireless)
• Design a subnet & addressing scheme:
– Determine number of subnets needed
– Determine hosts per subnet

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 Why Create Subnets?

• Subnets add value to a network’s design:

– Reduced network traffic for overall LAN
– Groups related hosts together for easier
management
• Management of each subnet can be assigned to a
specific person/team
– Specific security needs of each subnet easier
to configure

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 Does Physical Location Matter?

• Hosts in same LAN can be anywhere within the

WAN!
• Modern switches support creation of virtual
LANS (VLANs)
– Switches tag L2 traffic with VLAN ID
• Tagging != encapsulation
– Hosts in VLAN can communicate only with
other hosts in same VLAN

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 VLAN Example Using L3 Switches

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 Addressing Hosts

• Routers often addressed using first or last few

addresses in address range
– If routers are always .1 through .15, makes
them easy to identify through address
• Switches often addressed using next or previous
group of addresses
• Other devices addressed next
• Hosts often addressed last
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 Network Cabling &
Topology Planning
Summary – Unit 4
• Compare and contrast network media used for LAN and
WAN connectivity by device
• Explain the purpose and use of cabling standards
• Create and test common network cables
• Identify common router and switch ports
• Design various-sized networks based on varying
specifications
• Perform the steps to make a direct connection between a
PC and a router using a rollover (console) cable and
terminal emulation program
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 Network Cabling &
Topology Planning
References – Unit 4
References
• Odem, W. Cisco CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Academic Edition. 1st ed. Indianapolis: Cisco Press; 2013.
• Odem, W. Cisco CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-101. 1st ed. Indianapolis: Cisco Press; 2013.
• Odem, W. Cisco CCNA ICND2 200-101. 1st ed. Indianapolis: Cisco Press; 2013.
• Dean, T. Network+ Guide to Networks. 6th ed. Boston. Course Technology; 2012.
• Data link layer. Wikipedia [free encyclopedia on the Internet]. 2013 July 03; [cited 08 July 13]; Available from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_link_layer.
• Serial Cable Connection Guide. Cisco Support Community]. 2006 August 01; [cited 08 July 23]; Available from:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps341/products_tech_note09186a00801a886f.shtml.
• Category 5 cable. Wikipedia [free encyclopedia on the Internet]. 2013 July 25; [cited 08 July 25]; Available from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable.
• Category 6 cable. Wikipedia [free encyclopedia on the Internet]. 2013 July 08; [cited 08 July 25]; Available from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6_cable.
• RSA (algorithm). Wikipedia [free encyclopedia on the Internet]. 2013 July 25; [cited 08 July 25]; Available from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(algorithm).
• Configuring Secure Shell on Routers and Switches Running Cisco IOS. Cisco Support Community]. 2007 June
28; [cited 08 July 23]; Available from:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk583/tk617/technologies_tech_note09186a00800949e2.shtml.

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