Running Head: ASSESSMENT ON THE NETWORKS HEALTH 1

Assignment Background Information

This project will provide support for High-Definition IP cameras for DeVrys campus network.
In Phase 1, you designed a network switching infrastructure that supported both the existing data
traffic, as well as additional camera traffic. In Phase 2, you created standards and provided a
configuration template for implementation teams to use in future deployments. In Phase 3, you will
look into the health of the network at layer 2.
Phase 3 Assignment

Over the past few months, the university has experienced a number of issues with layer 2 loops and the
loss of VLANs. It was discovered that a student connected a switch that was purchased at a local garage
sale to the network, and inadvertently bridged the network, causing a Layer 2 loop. The switch also
wiped out the VLANs on the upstream switches.
Your manager is concerned with the networks inability to self-heal when experiencing these types of
network issues. As the network engineer, he has asked you to do a network assessment on the
networks health and how to prepare the network for any future STP and VTP issues.

Design Requirements
Your analysis and recommendations should address each of the following:
1. Layer 2 spanning-tree hardening; and

2. VTP standardization
Running Head: ASSESSMENT ON THE NETWORKS HEALTH 2
Deliverables
You are required to prepare a detailed network report for your manager at the next scheduled meeting.
Your report should:
1. Describe in detail all issues associated with layer 2 loops and VTP; and

2. Present best design practices to minimize layer 2 loops and VTP;
IMPORTANT: A report template is provided beginning on the next page and you must use it to submit
your assignment. Before submitting your assignment, delete the first three pages of this document
containing the instructions.
Your submitted assignment should begin with the Title Page and only contain your report.
Research References

The following websites are available to assist in your research and design for this project.
Cisco: http://www.cisco.com
NetworksOnline: http://www.networkers-online.com
Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/networksguy/topdown-network-design



Running Head: ASSESSMENT ON THE NETWORKS HEALTH 3



Assessment on the Networks Health
Name
DeVry University
NETW206: Introduction to Switching

Submitted to:
Professor:
Date:

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STP (Spanning Tree Protocol)
STP is a Cisco proprietary protocol. We are using STP to eliminate the layer 2 loops of
a network. STP provides path redundancy while preventing undesirable loops in a
network that are created by multiple active paths between stations.
Root Bridge
The root bridge is the bridge with the best bridge ID. With STP, the key is for all the
switches in the network to elect a root bridge that becomes the focal point in the
network. All other decisions in the networksuch as which port is to be blocked and
which port is to be put in forwarding modeare made from the perspective of this root
bridge.

BPDU
All the switches exchange information to use in the selection of the root switch as well
as in subsequent configuration of the network. Each switch compares the parameters in
the Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) that it sends to one neighbor with the one that it
receives from another neighbor.

Bridge ID
The bridge ID is how STP keeps track of all the switches in the network. It is determined
by a combination of the bridge priority (32,768 by default on all Cisco switches) and the
base MAC address. The bridge with the lowest bridge ID becomes the root bridge in the
network.

Nonroot bridges
These are all bridges that are not the root bridge. Nonroot bridges exchange BPDUs
with all bridges and update the STP topology database on all switches, preventing loops
and providing a measure of defense against link failures.

Port cost
Port cost determines the best path when multiple links are used between two switches
and none of the links is a root port. The cost of a link is determined by the bandwidth of
a link.

Root port
The root port is always the link directly connected to the root bridge, or the shortest path
to the root bridge. If more than one link connects to the root bridge, then a port cost is
determined by checking the bandwidth of each link. The lowest-cost port becomes the
root port. If multiple links have the same cost, the bridge with the lower advertising
bridge ID is used. Since multiple links can be from the same device, the lowest port
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number will be used. Designated port A designated port is one that has been
determined as having the best (lowest) cost. A designated port will be marked as a
forwarding port.

Nondesignated port
A nondesignated port is one with a higher cost than the designated port. Nondesignated
ports are put in blocking modethey are not forwarding ports.
Forwarding port A forwarding port forwards frames.
Blocked port A blocked port is the port that, in order to prevent loops, will not forward
frames. However, a blocked port will always listen to frames.

In a STP operation of a network, the first thing is to do is electing the Root Bridge. Root
Bridge is the switch with the lowest priority in the network.

Bridge Priority = Bridge ID + MAC Address

First we are checking about the Bridge ID. By default in Cisco switches, its 32,768. If Bridge Ids are
equal, then we are watching for the MAC address.


Switch A
Default priority 32768
MAC 0c0011111111
Switch B
Default priority 32768
MAC 0c0022222222
Fa 0/11 Fa 0/11
Fa 0/12 Fa 0/12
100 Mbps
100 Mbps

In the above mentioned diagram, Bridge IDs are equal. So then we chose the Switch
with lowest MAC address as the Root Bridge. So then its Switch A. So then the highest
port of the nonroot bridge is become the Blocking port. Fa 0/11 of Switch B is root port.
In STP algorithm, ports are running on four different states they are,

Blocking:- A blocked port wont forward frames; it just listens to BPDUs. The
purpose of the blocking state is to prevent the use of looped paths. All ports are in
blocking state by default when the switch is powered up.
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Listening :- The port listens to BPDUs to make sure no loops occur on the network
before passing data frames. A port in listening state prepares to forward data frames
without populating the MAC address table.

Learning :- The switch port listens to BPDUs and learns all the paths in the switched
network. A port in learning state populates the MAC address table but doesnt
forward data frames. Forward delay means the time it takes to transition a port from
listening to learning mode, which is set to 15 seconds by default and can be seen in
the show spanning-tree output.

Forwarding :- The port sends and receives all data frames on the bridged port. If the
port is still a designated or root port at the end of the learning state, it enters the
forwarding state. Disabled A port in the disabled state (administratively) does not
participate in the frame forwarding or STP. A port in the disabled state is virtually
nonoperational.



VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol)

VTP is also another Cisco proprietary protocol, which we are using to configure VLANs
in Cisco routers. The basic goals of VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) are to manage all
configured VLANs across a switched internetwork

Server
This is the default mode for all Catalyst switches. You need at least one server in your
VTP domain to propagate VLAN information throughout that domain. Also important:
The switch must be in server mode to be able to create, add, and delete VLANs in a
VTP domain. VTP information has to be changed in server mode, and any change
made to a switch in server mode will be advertised to the entire VTP domain. In VTP
server mode, VLAN configurations are saved in NVRAM.

Client
In client mode, switches receive information from VTP servers, but they also send and
receive updates, so in this way, they behave like VTP servers. The difference is that
they cant create, change, or delete VLANs. Plus, none of the ports on a client switch
can be added to a new VLAN before the VTP server notifies the client switch of the new
VLAN. Also good to know is that VLAN information sent from a VTP server isnt stored
in NVRAM, which is important because it means that if the switch is reset or reloaded,
the VLAN information will be deleted.
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Transparent
Switches in transparent mode dont participate in the VTP domain or share its VLAN
database, but theyll still forward VTP advertisements through any configured trunk inks.
They can create, modify, and delete VLANs because they keep their own database
one they keep secret from the other switches. Despite being kept in NVRAM, the VLAN
database in transparent mode is actually only locally significant. The whole purpose of
transparent mode is to allow remote switches to receive the VLAN database from a VTP
server-configured switch through a switch that is not participating in the same VLAN
assignments.

Part of a VTP configuration of a cisco switch
Switch>enable
Switch#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Switch(config)#vtp domain TEST
Changing VTP domain name from NULL to TEST
Switch(config)#vtp mode server
Device mode already VTP SERVER.


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References


1) www.cisco.com
2) http://www.webopedia.com