Chapter 6. Cisco Layer 2 Switching

Terms you'll need to understand:

• Spanning Tree Protocol

• Store-and-forward switching

• Fragment-free switching

• Cut-through switching

• Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)

• VLAN ID

• VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)

Techniques you'll need to master:

• Filtering and forwarding frames

• Preventing loops

• Discovering MAC addresses

• Frame tagging

• Inter-switch link

Chapter 3, "Hardware and the OSI Model," presented the evolution of the switch, as we know it today. Here, we will present switching technology, as Cisco views it. Many of the features and protocols we will be talking about are proprietary to Cisco or pioneered by Cisco. Therefore, even if you feel you know the technology, read this chapter carefully . Switching is a major product technology for Cisco and you will see more than a few questions on the test that relate directly to this chapter.