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Link Layer COD

This Link-Layer COD provides an excellent starting point for your CCIE preparation studies. The series covers a foundational topic in internetworking — attaining IPv4 unicast connectivity on a per-subnet/link basis.

The Link Layer Connectivity Class-on-Demand includes the following:

• Videos-On-Demand — Each VoD applies the NetMasterClass "options analysis" learning and problem solving approach. (7 hours of presentations!) A PC with Windows is required for the VOD client application. Please, download test drive archive to check the procedure.
• Practice Quizzes — this online testing tool will help you verify that you have learned the course material
• DRILLiT Labs — provide focused tasks related specifically to the contents of this VoD series. After performing the DRILLiT labs, review each lab's downloadable answer key as well as the supporting SHOWiT Tool.

Each VoD attempts to address a specific configuration task related to link-layer technologies deployed using the Cisco IOS and examine all possible options related to the specific task. This "options analysis" learning and problem solving approach is often exhibited in the form of options analysis decision tree diagrams. Several of these decision trees are exhibited below with the description of each of the VoD Blocks of this series.

• Interface Classification and Configuring Point-to-Point Links
• Comparing the Catalyst Layer 2 versus Layer 3 Port Configuration Options
• Configuring Access Ports on a Catalyst Switch
• Configuring Catalyst Port Speeds, Duplex Settings and UDLD
• Configuring VTP
• Configuring Trunk Ports
• Configuring 802.1Q and the Native VLAN
• Configuring EtherChannel
• Configuring Spanning Tree

• Interface Classification and Configuring Point-to-Point Links
  • Interface Classification and Configuring Point-to-Point Interfaces Part-1 (18 min)
  • Configuring Point-to-Point Interfaces Part-2 (14 min)
  • Configuring Point-to-Point Interfaces Part-3 (14 min)
  • Configuring Point-to-Point Interfaces Part-4 (11 min)
  • Configuring Point-to-Point Interfaces Part-5 (10 min)

  This set of three VoD's introduces an interface classification method along with a recommended study approach to cover all possible link-layer technologies that might be encountered in the Routing and Switching CCIE lab.

  

  After this introduction, the remaining two parts of this Block focus on configuring logical point-to-point interfaces, namely GRE and IPIP tunnel interfaces.

  
• Comparing the Catalyst Layer 2 versus Layer 3 Port Configuration Options
  • Comparing the Catalyst Layer 2 versus Layer 3 Port Configuration Options Part-1 (9 min)
  • Comparing the Catalyst Layer 2 versus Layer 3 Port Configuration Options Part-2 (14 min)

  This VoD block provides an excellent learning starting point for Catalyst 3550/3560 studies. The block examines the issues related to making the following fundamental configuration decision regarding Catalyst switch ports: should the port be configured as a (1) Layer 2 switchport or (2) Layer 3 routed port.

  
• Configuring Access Ports on a Catalyst Switch
  • Configuring Access Ports on a Catalyst Switch Part-1 (18 min)
  • Configuring Access Ports on a Catalyst Switch Part-2 (11 min)
  • Configuring Access Ports on a Catalyst Switch Part-3 (9 min)
  • Configuring Access Ports on a Catalyst Switch Part-4 (9 min)

  This VoD Block builds off of the previous Block. Once a Catalyst port has been identified as a Layer 2 switchport, the next implementation decision will be selecting from the following two types of Layer 2 ports: (1) will the port be configured as an access port or (2) will the port be configured as a trunk port. This block investigates the issues involved with configuring a Catalyst port as an access port. It will begin with access port basics. It transition to extending a single VLAN to multiple switches using access ports and SVI interfaces. It will end with a discussion on 802.1X.

  
• Configuring Catalyst Port Speeds, Duplex Settings and UDLD
  • Configuring Catalyst Port Speeds, Duplex Settings and UDLD Part-1 (16 min)
  • Configuring Catalyst Port Speeds, Duplex Settings and UDLD Part-2 (11 min)

  This block addresses the physical port a range of configuration options related to setting and negotiating port speeds and port duplex settings. The Block ends with a discussion on UDLD.

  
• Configuring VTP
  • Configuring VTP Part-1 (16 min)
  • Configuring VTP Part-2 (9 min)
  • Configuring VTP Part-3 (13 min)
  • Configuring VTP Part-4 (8 min)

  This Block introduces the VLAN Trunking Protocol. It reviews all three of modes of operation. It explains issues related to VTP advertising VLAN's throughout a specified domain of Catalyst switches. It also addresses the different versions of VTP as well.

  
• Configure Trunk Ports
  • Using DTP to Dynamically Configure Trunk Ports Part-1 (14 min)
  • Using DTP to Dynamically Configure Trunk Ports Part-2 (9 min)
  • Statically Configuring Catalyst Trunk Ports Part-3 (14 min)
  • Statically Configuring Catalyst Trunk Ports Part-4 (16 min)
  • DTP Negotiation Part-5 (12 min)

  This Block builds upon the last four Catalyst VoD Blocks. After covering access port as well as physical port implementation issues, it is time to learn about configuring trunks. This block addresses the following sections of the options analysis diagram. Emphasis on this VoD Block is on using DTP to dynamically negotiate trunk ports.

  

  After that it continues on the subject of trunking by discussing how to statically set a Catalyst trunk port. To compare and contrast static trunk configuration with dynamic trunk negotiation, this Block provides extensive coverage of the 'debug dtp packet' utility.

  
• Configuring 802.1Q and the Native VLAN
  • Configuring 802.1Q and the Native VLAN Part-1 (17 min)
  • Configuring 802.1Q and the Native VLAN Part-2 (18 min)

  This Block covers a range of issues associated with configuring the native VLAN for 802.1Q trunking. Scenarios include issues related to configuring the native VLAN between a router and a switch. Other scenarios address issues related to configuring the native VLAN between two Catalyst switches.

  
• Configuring EtherChannel
  • Configuring EtherChannel Part-1 (15 min)
  • Configuring EtherChannel Part-2 (9 min)
  • Configuring EtherChannel Part-3 (14 min)
  • Configuring EtherChannel Part-4 (9 min)

  This block examines a range of the configuration options related to implementing EtherChannel. It begins with static configurations of EtherChannel for sets of trunked ports, followed by access ports and ending with routed ports. After static configurations are explained, the discussion moves onto dynamic EtherChannel negotiation using PagP and LACP.

  
• Configuring Spanning Tree
  • Configuring Spanning Tree Part-1 (15 min)
  • Configuring Spanning Tree Part-2 (12 min)
  • Configuring Spanning Tree Part-3 (16 min)
  • Configuring MSP Part-4 (14 min)
  • Configuring RSTP Part-5 (13 min)

  This Block begins with a tutorial of the fundamentals of Spanning Tree. It then covers Catalyst specific configuration issues such as configuring a Bridge-ID, understanding 802.1T modifications to the Bridge priority field, root port selection and designated port election. Detailed use of 'debug spanning events' is provided to better understand Spanning Tree.

  

  Accompanying each of the 10 Blocks above, is a 'Spot the Issues' on-line quiz utility. You can attain a 'soft assessment' of what you have learned in each Block by taking these 'Spot the Issues' quizzes. After receiving your quiz score, review the question by question explanations generated in the report. This reports provides explanations to the quiz answers as wells as links back to the VoD's that covered the subject related to the quiz question.

Finally, you can apply what you have learned in this VoD series to the accompanying DRILLiT labs. The DRILLiT labs provide focused tasks related specifically to the contents of this VoD series. After performing the DRILLiT labs, review each labs' downloadable answer key as well as the supporting SHOWiT Tool.