What is Ethernet?
LANs, network cards and cables, CSMA/CD, Ethernet frames, Ethernet evolution, 802.3.
Hands on: ping, Ethernet speeds, CSMA/CD.
Ethernet layer 2
Layer 2 functions, NICs, MAC addresses, unicasts, multicasts and broadcasts, frame formats.
Hands on: Configuring NICs, Analysing MAC addresses with Wireshark
IP and Ethernet
Relationship
Hands on: ARP.
What is a switch?
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
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.
Switches in more detail
Latency, forwarding mechanisms, switch fabrics.
Hands on: Using telnet and HTTP to switches.
Ethernet extensions
Auto negotiation, Power over Ethernet.
Hands on:Configuring and troubleshooting switch ports: Speed, duplex and security.
Redundant links
Loops, broadcast storms, STP, BPDU format, STP convergence.
Hands on: Tracking blocked ports. STP convergence.
Backbone links
Architectures, link aggregation, LACP, load sharing, resilience.
Hands on: fail over times.
VLANs
Virtual versus physical LANs, Why have VLANs? Broadcast domains, Creating VLANs, Assigning ports to VLANs.
Hands on: Analysing the effect of VLANs on traffic.
Enterprise VLANs
VLANS are internal, multiple VLANs, Load balancing, Default VLAN, VLAN registration protocols: VTP, GVRP, MVRP.
Hands on: VLANs on multiple switches.
Tagging/Trunking
Reason for tagging, terminology, tagging process, 802.1Q, Tag format, VLAN stacking.
Hands on: Configuring and troubleshooting tags.
STP variants
RSTP, Common STP, Multiple STP, PVST, ring alternatives.
Hands on: RSTP.
Inter VLANs
Layer 3 switching, IP addressing rules, Interconnecting VLANs.
Hands on: Routing between VLANs.
Troubleshooting Ethernet
Methods, tools, locating faults, layer 1 issues, layer 2 issues
Hands on: Fixing the network.
