| This book consists of 11 chapters and two appendixes. The first ten chapters focus on specific LAN switching technologies, with the final chapter providing a comprehensive switching self-study lab that incorporates content from all of the preceding chapters. The three appendixes provide solutions to this final lab chapter. Each chapter begins with a brief introductory section, which backgrounds the key concepts and principles associated with the content covered in each chapter. Next, a number of scenarios are presented, each with a network topology and a set of requirements. Each scenario is designed to demonstrate how to implement and configure specific technologies and features related to the chapter content in a manner that allows you to relate to real-world networks. The scenarios are designed so that readers can build the topologies described in each scenario in their own labs at home or at work. If you have access to the equipment discussed in the scenarios of this book, you are encouraged to attempt as many scenarios as you can in your own lab. After completing the configuration of each scenario, you are shown how to verify, monitor, and troubleshoot your configurations. The scenarios do not just contain purely practical informationdetailed background and explanations of technologies are provided where deemed necessary, ensuring you gain a strong understanding of exactly what you are configuring and why you are configuring it in a certain way. The following describes the content of each chapter and appendix. Chapter 1, "Switching Connectivity" The first chapter introduces you to the basic Catalyst switch platforms and then shows you how to prepare both a CatOS-based and Cisco IOS-based Catalyst switch for placement on the network and to provide basic LAN connectivity for devices that allow basic communications between each device. Chapter 2, "Virtual Operations" This chapter covers virtual LANs or VLANs. You are first introduced to the concept of VLANs and why they are such an integral component of modern LAN networks. You learn how to create and configure VLANs, placing switch ports into various VLANs, creating Layer 2 separations between devices. Chapter 3, "Trunking and Bandwidth Aggregation" This chapter introduces both EtherChannel and Trunking, which are technologies used to link Cisco Catalyst switches together. You learn how to configure multiple physical interfaces as a single EtherChannel bundle, which allows you to increase the performance and resiliency of connections. Next, you learn about VLAN trunking protocol and how you must configure it. Trunking is then examined and you learn how to multiplex the traffic from multiple VLANs down a single physical trunk interface. Chapter 4, "Spanning Tree" This chapter covers spanning tree, which is fundamental and very important protocol used in switched environments. The chapter introduces you to basic spanning-tree configuration and then moves into advanced spanning-tree features, such as how to implement load sharing and configuring spanning-tree enhancements. Chapter 5, "Inter-VLAN Routing" This chapter covers inter-VLAN routing and how it is required for devices to communicate between VLANs. The basic inter-VLAN routing architectures are discussed; the chapter also delves into basic Layer 3 switching configuration, along with configuring Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP). Chapter 6, "Layer 3 Switching" This chapter covers Layer 3 switching in depth and discusses the need for Layer 3 switches in modern LAN networks. This chapter focuses primarily on the Cisco Catalyst 6000/6500 series switch family and the components that make up the product, such as Supervisor engines, Policy Feature Cards (PFCs), and multilayer switching feature cards (MSFCs). You learn about Multilayer switching (MLS) and Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) and how these provide the foundation for L3 switching on Catalyst switches. Chapter 7, "Multicast Routing and Switching" This chapter covers multicast routing and how you can control multicast traffic on the LAN. You learn about multicast routing and how Cisco Layer 3 switches support this feature. You also learn how multicast routers can interoperate with switches, allowing switches to constrain multicast traffic to only those ports that wish to receive multicast traffic, using features such as Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping and Cisco Group Management Protocol (CGMP). Chapter 8, "Traffic Filtering and Security" This chapter shows you how you to secure your switching infrastructure by securing management access, securing device access to the switch, and implementing traffic filtering to ensure network security policy is conformed to. You learn how to secure the management interface for a Catalyst switch, enhance security by using AAA, provide user-based authentication and authorization to the LAN using 802.1x, and implement filtering of traffic received on ports and VLANs. Chapter 9, "Quality of Service" This chapter shows you how to configure end-to-end quality of service (QoS) in a LAN switched network, as well as how to provide QoS classification and marking when looking at the entire network. You learn how to configure basic concepts of QoSclassification, marking, policing, and scheduling. The Cisco Catalyst switch platforms and how they implement QoS are discussed, which is important when selecting which switch platform you should implement. Voice over IP and how Cisco Catalyst switches can interact with Cisco IP phones is also covered. Chapter 10, "Maintenance, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting" This chapter shows you how to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot Cisco Catalyst switch networks. You learn about common issues in switched networks and how you can identify and resolve these issues. You also learn how to upgrade your switch and how you can recover from lost passwords or missing operating system files. Finally, you learn how to capture traffic from the switching backplane using SPAN, RSPAN, and VLAN access control lists (ACLs). Chapter 11, "Comprehensive Switching Self-Study Lab" The final chapter provides a self-study lab scenario, which tests how well you understand the content provided in this book. The scenario consists of initially configuring a flat, Layer 2 topology and then converting it into a multilayer topology. Appendixes A and B provide full solutions to each part of the scenario. Appendix A, "Comprehensive Switching Self-Study Lab Part I Solution" Provides complete solutions for the first section of the self-study lab in Chapter 11. Appendix B, "Comprehensive Switching Self-Study Lab Part II Solution" Provides complete solutions for the second section of the self-study lab in Chapter 11.
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