Compiled by Peter Smith 2014

Weekly Lectures

Mini Lectures - Week 5

Lecture 1 – Week 5
LAN Switching and Wireless

Chapter 4 - Implement VTP

Welcome back to another session.

In this mini lecture I will be going through the key concepts of Chapter 4 – Implementing VTP from
CCNA3 LAN Switching and Wireless.

Key Concepts:

This chapter deals with the role of VTP in a converged network.

VTP is a Cisco proprietary protocol used to exchange VLAN information across trunk lines.

Its use reduces VLAN administration time and configuration errors.

We will cover the three operating modes of VTP, and how VTP operates and you will get the opportunity
to configure VTP across a network.

There are 2 key concepts in this chapter.

1. VTP Concepts
2. Configuring VTP

1. VTP Concepts – Large networks using VLANs need a way to efficiently and correctly pass VLAN
information to all switches in the network.

You will explore the benefits of VTP and the components that make up VTP.

There are three modes in which a switch can participate in VTP and network: server, client and
transparent.
ITC512 - Week 5 Lectures

Professionals need to know why they would choose one mode over another. You must understand how
the various types of VTP messages (called advertisements) work in a VTP environment because you will
be better able to troubleshoot VTP issues.

2. Configuring VTP – In addition to understanding the three modes, network professionals must also
know the configuration details and the specific CLI used to configure a switch from its default VTP
configuration to one of the three modes.

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You should find the configuration process straightforward because you have already worked with the
switch CLI.

This should be a natural extension of what you did in the last chapter. As with all the labs and activities,
you will practice troubleshooting configuration problems that can occur when managing a VTP server on
a converged network.

Challenges:

Focusing on the Details and Missing the Concepts. You may not easily recognize or understand the main
concepts in this chapter because there are so many details. As with the previous chapters, this topic has
many details each one of you should know. However the overall concept of VTP is simple. VTP works by
passing VLAN information across a domain so that all the switches share the same VLAN information.
You need to understand the details so you can distinguish yourselves as professionals. The animations in
the chapter are a great way to help you visualize the various aspects of VTP. You should know that as
network professionals, it is your ability to understand both the high level concepts and the detailed
configurations that will set you apart in the workplace. You can compare the process of learning
networking to that of studying medicine. A medical student learns details about basic anatomy before
they can begin to work on a patient. In our case, you will need to learn many details about switching
protocols in order to proficiently work in a converged network.

Lecture 2 – Week 5
LAN Switching and Wireless

Chapter 5 - Implement Spanning Tree Protocols

Welcome back to another mini lecture. I will be covering the Key Concepts of Chapter 5 - Implement
Spanning Tree Protocols from CCNA3 LAN Switching and Wireless.

Spanning Tree Protocol is used to resolve Layer 2 problems created by LANs that have physically
redundant components.

The advantages of a hierarchical network were explained in chapter 1.

Redundancy is achieved at the Distribution and Core layers by adding hardware and creating alternate
paths through those layers.

However, because of the nature of Ethernet, packets can continuously loop through the duplicate paths.
ITC512 - Week 5 Lectures

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) uses the Spanning Tree Algorithm (STA) to achieve one loop-free path
between each device on the network.

(STA) Spanning Tree Algorithm results in a three-step process that consists of electing a root bridge,
electing root ports and then electing designated ports and non-designated ports.

Once this process is complete the network is converged.

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STP can be used across VLANs with one instance of STP for each VLAN.

There are 3 key concepts in this chapter.

1. Using STP to resolve redundancy issues
2. Variations of STP
3. Design and troubleshooting with STP

1. Using STP to resolve redundancy issues – A network administrator must understand how to use STP
to efficiently craft a network with one path to and from each device.

STP uses the Spanning Tree Algorithm (STA) to determine which ports to block and which to unblock to
create a loop- free network.

The STA is recalculated anytime a physical failure or a Layer 2 failure is noted on the network.
STP uses messages called BPDUs to exchange information between switches.

One root bridge is elected in each LAN segment and all other switches have a relationship with that root
bridge based on the STA.

The BDPU frame, process and defaults are explained in the chapter, as well as how and why a network
administrator makes changes to the process to improve network functionality.

2. Variations of STP – STP is one of many networking standards that has evolved together with the
technology it serves.

STP versions are either IEEE industry standard or proprietary.

The main IEEE standards are RSTP, which provides for faster convergence than STP; and MSTP, which
offers per-VLAN instances of STP.

Each variation was developed in response to faster networks and the increased use of VLANs.

The Cisco proprietary equivalents are Per VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVST+), which allows per-VLAN
instances of STP and other enhancements; and rapid PVST+, which has a faster convergence time than
PVST+.

A network professional needs to know all of these variations because a mixed vendor network would
require careful consideration of STP issues.
ITC512 - Week 5 Lectures

3. Design and troubleshooting with STP – The network administrator must use this knowledge of STP
concepts to design a network in such a way as to avoid problems.

Because troubleshooting is a common aspect of the network administrator’s work, it can be made easier
by forcing some aspects of STP, such as the root bridge, to a specific switch.

A network diagram that shows each physical loop and the blocked ports that stop the path loops will
also aid in troubleshooting in the event of a Layer 2 failure.

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Troubleshooting STP is more challenging than troubleshooting some other protocols because there is no
systematic procedure to follow.

However, at the minimum a network administrator must know the topology of the bridged network, the
location of the root bridge, and the location of the blocked ports and the redundant links to begin the
process of STP troubleshooting.

Challenges:

There are 3 challenges in this chapter.

1. STP is elegant but complicated. STP is an elegant response to the problem of Layer 2 switching loops
that occur in a network with redundant physical paths. However, the algorithm used to accomplish a
loop-free network involves a large amount of detail. Much of this detail (e.g., the default bridge
priorities) must be memorized in order to configure and troubleshoot STP. You need to do the
embedded chapter activities. Take every opportunity to read the material over and over again. Your
focus will be the main concepts; you need to take responsibility for learning and memorizing the detail.

2. Many variations on a theme – After you have worked to grasp STP you will then be challenged to
learn about variations of STP; PVST+, RSTP and Rapid PVST+. This adds another layer of complexity to an
already difficult protocol. Everything you learned in STP will be slightly different. So if you do not have a
solid understanding of STP, the variations will be confusing. You can help yourself by spending time on
the basics of STP. Also, though the majority of the chapter is spent on STP, the labs will use Rapid PVST+
as the protocol of choice. I warn you from the beginning that STP, which you will learn about in detail,
will be the basis of what you will do in the labs, but not the exact version of the protocol you will be
using.

3.Troubleshooting has no systematic procedure. With previous protocols (e.g., VLANs), the
troubleshooting technique advised is to consider where the problems can occur and check those places
systematically. The reason this works with VLANs and other protocols is that the network administrator
must configure the devices to use those protocols. Therefore, there is a high possibility for human error.
In STP, the initial configuration takes place upon switch boot up. The problems that might occur with
STP could be based on physical connection errors or Layer 2 problems that the network administrator
did not overtly create. Again, the need for you to know the default STP values and how that protocol
behaves will help you when you begin to troubleshoot.
ITC512 - Week 5 Lectures