300095 Computer Networks

and Internets

Week 4: Switched Networks

Autumn 2020

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Chapter 4: Switched
Networks

CCNA Routing and Switching

Routing and Switching Essentials v6.0

Chapter 4 - Sections & Objectives
 4.1 LAN Design

• Explain how switched networks support small to medium-sized businesses.

• Explain how data, voice, and video are converged in a switched network.
• Describe a switched network in a small to medium-sized business.
 4.2 The Switched Environment
• Explain how Layer 2 switches forward data in a small to medium-sized LAN.
• Explain how frames are forwarded in a switched network.
• Compare a collision domain to a broadcast domain.

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4.1 LAN Design

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Converged Networks
Growing Complexity of Networks
 Next-generation networks need to
be secure, reliable, and highly
available.
 They must support a globalized
workforce.
 They must be able to integrate
legacy devices.

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Converged Networks
Elements of a Converged Network
 Converged network solutions
integrate voice systems, IP phones,
voice gateways, video support, and
video conferencing.
 Primary benefit of the converged
network - just one physical network
to install and manage.

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Converged Networks
Cisco Borderless Networks
 The Cisco Borderless Network has the
following features:
• Allows organizations to connect anyone,
anywhere, anytime, on any device;
securely, reliably, and seamlessly.
• Provides the framework to unify wired
and wireless access, including policy,
access control, and performance
management across many different
device types.
• Provides network services, and user and
endpoint services that are all managed
by an integrated management solution.

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Converged Networks
Hierarchy in the Borderless Switched Network
 Borderless switched network design
guidelines are based on the following
principles:
• Hierarchical - Facilitates understanding
the role of each device at every tier.
• Modularity - Allows seamless network
expansion and integrated services.
• Resiliency – Provides an always
available network.
• Flexibility - Allows intelligent traffic load
sharing.
 The three tiers of the hierarchical model
are Access, Distribution and Core layers.

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Converged Networks
Access, Distribution, and Core Layers
 Access Layer – provides network access
to the user.
 Distribution Layer - interfaces between
the access layer and the core layer.
Provides functions such as:
• aggregating Layer 2 broadcast domains and
Layer 3 routing boundaries.
• providing intelligent switching, routing, and
network access policy functions to access
the rest of the network.
 Core Layer - is the network backbone. It
provides fault isolation and high-speed
backbone connectivity. Smaller networks that do not need a separate
distribution and core layer often use a two-tier campus
or collapsed core network design.
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Switched Networks
Role of Switched Networks
 A hierarchical switched LAN allows more
flexibility, traffic management, and
additional features:
• Quality of service
• Additional security
• Support for wireless networking and
connectivity
• Support for new technologies.

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Switched Networks
Form Factors

Stackable Configuration
Fixed Configuration
 Considerations when selecting switches:
• Cost
• Port Density
• Power
• Reliability
• Port Speed
• Frame buffers
Modular Configuration • Scalability
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4.2 The Switched
Environment

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Frame Forwarding
Switching as a General Concept in Networking and
Telecommunications
 A LAN switch makes decisions based on
two criteria:
• Ingress port - where a frame enters the
device
• Destination address
 A LAN switch maintains a table that it uses
to determine how to forward traffic.
 In the diagram, If a message enters switch
port 1 with a destination address of EA, then
the switch forwards the traffic out port 4.
 Layer 2 Ethernet switches forward frames
based on the destination MAC address.

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Frame Forwarding
Video Demonstration - MAC Address Tables on Connected
Switches
 The video explains how a switch builds
its MAC address table by recording the
MAC address of each device connected
to each of its ports.

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Frame Forwarding
Switch Forwarding Methods

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Frame Forwarding
Store-and-Forward Switching
 Features of Store-and-Forward
Switching:
• Error Checking– After receiving the
entire frame, the switch compares the
frame-check-sequence (FCS) value in
the last field against its own FCS
calculations. Only error-free frames
are forwarded
• Automatic Buffering– ingress port
buffering provides the flexibility to
support any mix of Ethernet speeds.
 Store-and-Forward is Cisco’s
primary LAN switching method.

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Frame Forwarding
Cut-Through Switching
 Rapid Frame Forwarding - The switch
can make a forwarding decision as
soon as it has looked up the
destination MAC address.
• Frames with errors are forwarded.
 Fragment Free - modified form of cut-
through switching. The switch waits
for the collision window (64 bytes) to
pass before forwarding the frame.
• Provides better error checking than
cut-through, with practically no
increase in latency.

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Switching Domains
Collision Domains
 In hub-based Ethernet segments,
network devices compete for the
medium, therefore collisions will
occur.
 Ethernet switch ports operating in full
duplex eliminate collisions.
 Ethernet switch ports will
autonegotiate full-duplex if connected
to full-duplex device.
 If connected to a half-duplex device
then the switch port will operate in half
duplex and be part of a collision
domain.
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Switching Domains
Broadcast Domains  One switch or multiple interconnected
switches form a single broadcast
domain.
 When a switch receives a broadcast
frame, it forwards the frame out each
of its ports, except the ingress port
where the broadcast frame was
received.
 When two switches or more switches
are connected together, the broadcast
domain is increased because the
broadcast is propagated from switch to
switch.
 Too many broadcasts can cause
network congestion.
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Switching Domains
Alleviating Network Congestion
 The following characteristics of
switches help alleviate congestion:
• Establishing full-duplex links, therefore
eliminating collisions.
• High port density
• Large frame buffers
• Port speed
• Fast internal switching
• Low per-port cost

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4.3 Chapter Summary

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Conclusion
Chapter 4: Switched Networks
 Explain how switched networks support small to medium-sized businesses.

 Explain how Layer 2 switches forward data in a small to medium-sized LAN.

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