This chapter covers the following topics that you need to master for the CCNP BCMSN exam:
To have a good understanding of the many features that you can configure on a Catalyst switch, you first should understand the fundamentals of the switching function itself. This chapter serves as a primer, describing how an Ethernet switch works. It presents Layer 2 forwarding, along with the hardware functions that make forwarding possible. Multilayer switching also is explained. A considerable portion of the chapter deals with the memory architecture that performs switching at Layers 3 and 4 both flexibly and efficiently. This chapter also provides a brief overview of useful switching tablemanagement commands. |