CCNA Data Center - Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking Study Guide: Exam 640-911

Chapter 11

Layer 2 Switching Technologies

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• Describing Switching

• Understanding the Challenges of Shared LANs
• Solving Network Challenges with Switched LAN Technology

• Implementing VLANs and Trunks

• Understanding VLANs
• Understanding Trunking with 802.1Q
• Understanding VTP
• Configuring VTP, Trunks, and VLANs

• Exploring the Routing Process

• Traditional Inter-VLAN Routing
• Multilayer Switching

Layer 2 switching is essentially the process of using the device’s hardware address on a LAN to segment a network. Because we’ve already covered these basic ideas, we’re going to get into the finer points of layer 2 switching now, delving deeper into how it works.

Switches have changed networking in a big way, and if a pure switched design is properly implemented, it will certainly result in a clean, cost-effective, and resilient internetwork. Throughout this chapter, we’ll survey and compare how networks were designed before and after switching technologies were introduced.

In contrast to the networks of yesterday that were based upon collapsed backbones, today’s network design is characterized by a flatter architecture—thanks to switches. So now what? How do we break up broadcast domains in a pure switched internetwork? This challenge is answered by creating VLANs, which are logical collectives of network users and resources connected to administratively defined ports on a switch. When you create VLANs, you gain the ability to create ...