Foundation Summary


The Foundation Summary is a collection of tables, figures, lists, and other information that provides a convenient review of many key concepts in this chapter. If you are already comfortable with the topics in this chapter, this summary might help you recall a few details. If you just read this chapter, this review should help solidify some key facts. If you are doing your final preparation before the exam, the following information is a convenient way to review the day before the exam.

A campus network can be logically divided into these building blocks:

  • Switch block A group of access-layer switches, together with their distribution switches.

  • Core block The campus network's backbone.

  • Server farm block A group of enterprise servers, along with their access- and distribution-layer switches.

  • Management block A group of network-management resources, along with their access and distribution switches.

  • Enterprise edge block A collection of services related to external network access, along with their access and distribution switches.

  • Service provider edge block The external network services contracted or used by the enterprise network. These are the services with which the enterprise edge block interfaces.

Other than the core block, each switch block should have the following characteristics:

  • Switches that form an access layer

  • Dual distribution switches

  • Redundant connections into the access and core layers

The most important factors to consider when choosing a switch block's size are as follows:

  • The number of users connected to the access-layer switches

  • The extent of the access VLAN or subnet

  • Multilayer switching capacity of the distribution switches in the switch block

  • The types, patterns, and volume of traffic passing through the switch block

The core layer in a campus network can be designed as follows:

  • Collapsed core The distribution- and core-layer switches are combined. This is usually acceptable in a small to medium-size network.

  • Dual core The distribution and core layers are separate; the core layer consists of dual or redundant multilayer switches.



CCNP Self-Study(c) CCNP BCMSN Exam Certification Guide
Red Hat Fedora 5 Unleashed
ISBN: N/A
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 177

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