Chapter 1: Introduction

to Switched Networks

Routing and Switching

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 Chapter 1
1.0 Introduction
1.1 LAN Design
1.2 Switched Environment
1.3 Summary

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 Chapter 1: Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:
 Describe convergence of data, voice, and video in the context of
switched networks.
 Describe a switched network in a small-to-medium-sized business.
 Explain the process of frame forwarding in a switched network.
 Compare a collision domain to a broadcast domain.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk3wnLpG6Nw

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 Converged Networks
Growing Complexity of Networks

 Our digital world is

changing.
 Information must
be accessed from
anywhere in the
world.
 Networks must be
secure, reliable,
and highly
available.

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 Converged Networks
Elements of a Converged Network
 Collaboration is a
requirement.
 To support collaboration,
networks employ
converged solutions.
 Data services include
voice systems, IP phones,
voice gateways, video
support, and video
conferencing.
 Call control, voice
messaging, mobility, and
automated attendant are
also common features.

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 Converged Networks
Benefits of a Converged Network

 Multiple types of traffic;

only one network to
manage.
 Substantial savings over
installation and
management of
separate voice, video,
and data networks.
 Integrates IT
management.

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 Converged Networks
Borderless Switched Networks
 The Cisco Borderless Network is a network architecture that
allows organizations to connect anyone, anywhere, anytime,
and on any device securely, reliably, and seamlessly.
 Cisco Borderless Network is designed to address IT and
business challenges, such as supporting the converged
network and changing work patterns.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCg2HctgvJE

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 Converged Networks
Hierarchy in the Borderless Switched
Network
Borderless switched network design guidelines are built upon the
following principles:
 Hierarchical -Facilitates understanding the role of each device at
every tier, simplifies deployment, operation, and management, and
reduces fault domains at every tier.
 Modularity -Allows seamless network expansion and integrated
service enablement on an on-demand basis
 Resiliency -Satisfies user expectations for keeping the network
always on
 Flexibility - Allows intelligent traffic load sharing by using all network
resources

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 Hierarchy in the Borderless Switched
Network

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 Hierarchy in the Borderless Switched
Network
 Access layer:
• represents the network edge, where traffic enters or exits the
campus network
• to provide network access to the user.
 Distribution layer:
•  interfaces between the access layer and the core layer to
provide many important functions, including:
o Aggregating large-scale wiring closet networks
o Aggregating Layer 2 broadcast domains and Layer 3
routing boundaries
o Providing intelligent switching, routing, and network
access policy functions to access the rest of the network
o Providing differentiated services to various classes of
service applications at the edge of the network
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 Hierarchy in the Borderless Switched
Network

 Core layer:
•  the network backbone
• connects several layers of the campus network
• to provide fault isolation and high-speed backbone
connectivity.

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 Converged Networks
Core, Distribution, Access
• Three tier network
 the access, distribution, and core are each separate layers.
 build an extended-star physical network topology from a
centralized building location to all other buildings on the same
campus.

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 Converged Networks
Collapsed Distribution, Access
• Two tier network
• a separate distribution and core layer is not requireda when there are lack of
physical or network scalability restrictions, maintaining 
• In smaller campus locations where there are fewer users accessing the network
or in campus sites consisting of a single building

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  http://irsccsdept.org/academy/CCNA2/course/module1/
1.1.1.6/1.1.1.6.html

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Presentation_ID © 2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 16
 Switched Networks
Role of Switched Networks

 Switching technologies are crucial to network design.

 Switching allow traffic to be sent only where it is needed in most
cases, using fast methods.
 A switched LAN:
 Allows more flexibility
 Allows more traffic management
 Supports quality of service, additional security, wireless, IP
telephony, and mobility services

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 Switch Feature
 common business considerations when selecting switch equipment.
Switch Feature Business Consideration
Cost The cost of a switch will depend on the number and
speed of the interfaces, supported features, and
expansion capability.
Port density Network switches must support the appropriate
number of devices on the network
Power It is now common to power access points, IP
phones, and even compact switches using Power
over Ethernet (PoE). In addition to PoE
considerations, some chassis-based switches
support redundant power supplies.
Reliability The switch should provide continuous access to the
network.
Port speed The speed of the network connection is of primary
concern to the end users.
Frame buffers The capability of the switch to store frames is
important in a network where there may be
congested ports to servers or other areas of the
network.
Scalability The number of users on a network typically grows
over the switch should provide the opportunity for
growth.
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 Switched Networks
Form Factor

Fixed
Platform

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 Switched Networks
Form Factor (cont.)

Modular
Platform

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 Switched Networks
Form Factor (cont.)

Stackable
Platform

http://irsccsdept.org/academy/CCNA2/course/module1/
1.1.2.3/1.1.2.3.html
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 Frame Forwarding
Switching as a General Concept
 A switch makes a decision based on ingress and a destination
port.
 A LAN switch keeps a table that it uses to determine how to
forward traffic through the switch.
 Cisco LAN switches forward Ethernet frames based on the
destination MAC address of the frames.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWwy7zRTduw

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 Frame Forwarding
Dynamically Populating a Switch MAC
Address Table
 A switch must first learn which devices exist on each port before it
can transmit a frame.
 It builds a table called a MAC address or content addressable
memory (CAM) table.
 The mapping device <-> port is stored in the CAM table.
 CAM is a special type of memory used in high-speed searching
applications.
 The information in the MAC address table used to send frames.

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 Frame Forwarding
Switch Forwarding Methods
Add a header

CRC = cyclic redundancy check 

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 Frame Forwarding
Store-and-Forward Switching
 Allows the switch to:
 Check for errors (via FCS check)
 Perform automatic buffering
 Slower forwarding process

 frame check sequence (FCS)

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 Frame Forwarding
Store-and-Forward Switching (cont.)

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 Frame Forwarding
Cut-Through Switching
 Allows the switch to start forwarding in about 10 microseconds
 No FCS check
 No automatic buffering

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 Frame Forwarding
Cut-Through Switching (cont.)

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