Exercises

Exercises

This section includes a variety of questions on the topic of this chapter campus design concepts and models. By completing these, you can test your mastery of the material included in this chapter as well as help prepare yourself for the CCIE written and lab tests.

Review Questions

1:

What are some of the unique requirements of an IDF switch?

2:

What are some of the unique requirements of an MDF switch?

3:

Describe the access/distribution/core terminology.

4:

Why is routing an important part of any large network design?

5:

What networks work best with the router and hub model?

6:

What are the benefits of the campus-wide VLANs model?

7:

What are the downsides of the campus-wide VLANs model?

8:

Describe the concept of a distribution block.

9:

Why is it important to have modularity in a network?

10:

What are the concerns that arise when using a Layer 2 core versus a Layer 3 core?

11:

How should a server farm be implemented in the multilayer model?

Design Lab

 

Design two campus networks that meet the following requirements. The first design should employ the campus-wide VLANs model using Catalyst 5509 switches. The second design should implement the multilayer model by using Catalyst 8540 MDF switches and Catalyst 5509 IDF switches. Here are the requirements:

• The campus contains three buildings.

• Each building has four floors.

• Each floor has one IDF switch. (In reality there would be more, however, these can be eliminated from this exercise for simplicity.)

• Each building has two MDF switches in the basement.

• Each IDF has redundant links (one two each MDF switch).

• The MDF switches are fully or partially meshed (choose which one you feel is more appropriate) with Gigabit Ethernet links (in other words, the core does not use a third layer of switches).

• Each IDF switch should have a unique management VLAN where SC0 can be assigned.

• In the campus-wide VLANs design, assume there are 12 VLANs and that every IDF switch participates in every VLAN.

• In the multilayer design, assume that every IDF switch only participates in a single end-user VLAN (for administrative simplicity).

How many VLANs are required under both designs?