Definitive Ethernet switching for engineers

Description

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.

What will you learn

Definitive Ethernet switching course details

Technical staff.

Intro to data communications & networking.

3 days

LANs, network cards and cables, CSMA/CD, Ethernet frames, Ethernet evolution, 802.3.
Hands on: ping, Ethernet speeds, CSMA/CD.

Layer 2 functions, NICs, MAC addresses, unicasts, multicasts and broadcasts, frame formats.
Hands on: Configuring NICs, Analysing MAC addresses with Wireshark

Relationship
Hands on: ARP.

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 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.

Latency, forwarding mechanisms, switch fabrics.
Hands on: Using telnet and HTTP to switches.

Auto negotiation, Power over Ethernet.
Hands on:Configuring and troubleshooting switch ports: Speed, duplex and security.

Loops, broadcast storms, STP, BPDU format, STP convergence.
Hands on: Tracking blocked ports. STP convergence.

Architectures, link aggregation, LACP, load sharing, resilience.
Hands on: fail over times.

Virtual versus physical LANs, Why have VLANs? Broadcast domains, Creating VLANs, Assigning ports to VLANs.
Hands on: Analysing the effect of VLANs on traffic.

VLANS are internal, multiple VLANs, Load balancing, Default VLAN, VLAN registration protocols: VTP, GVRP, MVRP.
Hands on: VLANs on multiple switches.

Reason for tagging, terminology, tagging process, 802.1Q, Tag format, VLAN stacking.
Hands on: Configuring and troubleshooting tags.

RSTP, Common STP, Multiple STP, PVST, ring alternatives.
Hands on: RSTP.

Layer 3 switching, IP addressing rules, Interconnecting VLANs.
Hands on: Routing between VLANs.

Methods, tools, locating faults, layer 1 issues, layer 2 issues
Hands on: Fixing the network.