Local Area Network

Agenda
Overview LAN LAN Type LAN Hardware Virtual LAN WLAN

Local Area Networks (LANs)

LANs connect computers and peripherals within a building or group of buildings. Users can access software, data, and peripherals. LANs require special hardware and software.

Computers connected to a LAN are called workstations or nodes.

Different types of LANs:
Peer-to-peer Client-server

Peer-to-Peer Networks

All computers on the network are treated as equal. There are no file servers. Users decide which files and peripherals to share. They arent suited for networks with many computers. They are easy to set up. Example: Home networks

Client-Server Networks

Typical corporate networks are client-server. They use various topologies or physical layouts. The network requires file servers, networked computers (clients),

and a network operating system (NOS). Clients send requests to servers for programs and data, and to access peripherals.

LAN Type
Large Building LANs Campus LANs Small/Remote Site LANs

Large Building LANs

Large building LANs are segmented by floors or departments

Campus LANs

A campus LAN connects two or more buildings located near each other using high-bandwidth LAN media.

Small/Remote Site LANs

Small/remote sites usually connect back to the corporate network via a small router.

LAN Hardware
Repeaters/ Hub Switches Routers Layer 3 switches

Repeaters Hubs
Basic unit used in networks to connect separate segments. Repeaters take incoming frames, regenerate the preamble, amplify the signals, and send the frame out all other interfaces. Repeaters operate in the physical layer of the OSI model. Do not control broadcasts or collision domains. Protocol transparent 5-4-3 Rule: The maximum path between two stations on the network should not be more than 5 segments with 4 repeaters between those segments and no more than 3 populated segments.

Switches

Switches are the evolution of bridges. Switches use fast integrated circuits that reduce the latency that bridges introduce to the network. Switches also enable the capability to run in cut-through mode. In cut-through mode, the switch does not wait for the entire frame to enter its buffer; instead, it forwards the frame after it has read the destination MAC address field of the frame. Switches controls collision domains but not broadcast domains

Routers

Routers make forwarding decisions based on network layer addresses. Routers control broadcast domains and collision domains. Each interface of a router is a separate broadcast domain defined by a subnet and a mask. Routers are protocol aware, which means they are capable of forwarding packets of routed protocols such as IP, IPX, Decnet, and AppleTalk. Routers are the preferred method of forwarding packets between networks of differing media, such as Ethernet to Token Ring, Ethernet to FDDI, or Ethernet to Serial.

Layer 3 switches
LAN switches that are capable of running routing protocols. These switches are capable of running routing protocols and communicating with neighboring routers. Layer 3 switches have LAN technology interfaces that perform network layer forwarding; legacy routers provide connectivity to WAN circuits. The switches off-load local traffic from the WAN routers. Layer 3 switches perform the functions of both data link layer switches and network layer routers. Each port is a collision domain. Interfaces are grouped into broadcast domains (subnets) and a routing protocol is selected to provide network information to other Layer 3 switches and routers.

Combining Routers, Switches, and Hubs

Networking functions are being integrated into common platforms Reduces the number of networking devices to be purchased, installed, supported, and serviced

When to Use Switching

Use switches in network designs to provide :
High bandwidth in growing networks Low cost per port to increase bandwidth to support applications Easy configuration and administration Minimize collisions

When to Use Routing

Use routers in network designs to:
Segment the network into individual broadcast domain Supply intelligent packet forwarding Support redundant network path Provide security, policy, and network management Offer manageability, control, and WAN access

Campus LAN Design

Understand the characteristic of the network traffic Does the traffic obey the 80/20 rule? Provision bandwidth and routers carefully to avoid congestion and poor performance

Typical LAN
Grouped based on the hub (physically) Use routers as LAN segmentation (broadcast)

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VLAN
VLAN is a broadcast domain Grouped based on logical function, department or application Traffic can be switched between VLANS with a router

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VLAN
VLANs can logically segment users into different subnets (broadcast domains) Broadcast frames are only switched on the same VLAN ID. Users can be logically group via software based on:
port number MAC address

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LAN VS. VLAN

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VLAN across backbone

Backbone Inter-Domain communication High-speed link (100 Mbps or more) Inter-connect to router VLAN traffic between switches (trunks) is tagged (802.1q) or encapsulated (ISL) to identify VLAN membership
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Routers Role
Provides connection between different VLANs For example, you have VLAN1 and VLAN2.
Within the switch, users on separate VLANs cannot talk to each other (benefit of a VLAN!) However, users on VLAN1 can email users on VLAN2 but they need a router to do it.

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VLAN implementation
Created by software running on Layer 2 switches Three methods for implementing VLANs
Static Dynamic

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Static VLAN

Ports on a switch are administratively assigned to a VLAN Benefits can be assigned by port, address, or protocol type secure, easy to configure and monitor works well in networks where moves are controlled
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Dynamic VLAN

Switch ports can automatically determine a users VLAN assignment based MAC address When connected to an unassigned port, the switch dynamically configures the port with the right VLAN

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Wireless LAN

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Two Different Implementations of Wireless LAN Technology

Wireless Networking
Mobile user connectivity

Wireless Bridging
LAN-to-LAN connectivity

Local Area Network (LAN)

Wireless LAN (WLAN) as an extension to wired LAN
Hub Switch Hub Server Access Point

Internet

Workgroup Bridge

Typical WLAN Topologies

Wireless Cell Wireless Cell

Channel 1
LAN Backbone
Overlapping 10-15%

Channel 6

Access Point

Access Point

Wireless Clients

Wireless Clients

Hot Standby

LAN Backbone

Monitored Access Point

Standby Access Point

Wireless Clients

Wireless Repeater Topology

Wireless Repeater Cell Channel 1
LAN Backbone

Channel 1
Access Point Access Point

Wireless Clients

Alternative Peer-to-Peer Topology

Peer-to-Peer Configuration (ad hoc mode)
Wireless Cell

Wireless Clients

Internet Connection

Access Point Coverage and Data Rate Shifting Review (802.11b)

1 Mbps DSSS

2 Mbps DSSS 5.5 Mbps DSSS 11 Mbps DSSS

Multi-rate Implementation
Site Survey Bandwidth Example
2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 11 Mbps 2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 11 Mbps 2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 11 Mbps 2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 11 Mbps 2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 11 Mbps

11 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 2 Mbps

11 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 2 Mbps

11 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 2 Mbps

11 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 2 Mbps

11 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 2 Mbps

Microcellular Architecture
Roaming

Mobility Support Software

Roaming
Load Balancing Wireless Repeater Power Management
Internet