Article

Topology: Multilayer Switching in a “Campus” Network

Written by pierky from http://pierky.tel/ on September 22nd, 2008 | 35 Comments

Hey we have yet another great lab from a contributor. His name is Pierky and this is one great lab ..

You can also post your labs by sending them to me or by creating an account or making the post yourself and I will approve it once its complete ..

I’m working on CCNP BCMSN exam and I created this lab just to have something quite similar to a campus switched network.

There are 2 core switches, cross connected to 3 distribution switches (1 is both distrib and access) and 2 access switches, think to it as a 2 switching block. 3 routers work as PC.
A total of 10 routers are in the topology; with the right idle-pc it’s possible to have them working fine without burning the CPU!

Distribution switches have STP load balancing 2 Vlans, with 2 HSRP instances for the Vlans default gateways. You can (and have to) enable VTP on one of the switches, so that Vlans will propagate in the network (no global config mode, just vlan database mode). I put EIGRP on top of the core switches too, in order to enable “inter-blocks” routing.

I know, it’s bad to span L2 to the core, but I did it just to have a bigger spanning-tree diameter.
Lot of thinks are missing too, many can’t be done cause commands are not available on 3640.

Any comments or suggestions would be really appreciated!!

Remember to add vlans to the network and propagate them trough VTP (I did it on D1):

vlan database
vlan 10
vlan 20
vlan 30
vtp server
vtp domain MyDomain
apply
exit

Routers Used: 3640

IOS: c3640-jk9s-mz.124-16.bin

Feature of Topology: L2/L3 switching, VLan, VTP, HSRP, spanning-tree, trunking, etherchannel, EIGRP.

Image:

Download: Multilayer Switching in a Campus Network

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Tags: 3640, 802 DOT1Q, 802.1q, BCMSN, campus, CCNP, EIGRP, etherchannel, GNS3 HSRP Lab, GNS3 Topology, Hot Standby Router Protocol, HSRP, spanning-tree, Switching, VLAN

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About pierky: System and network engineer, Cisco CCNP certified Blog: http://pierky.wordpress.com/ - About me: http://pierky.tel/

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35 Responses to “Topology: Multilayer Switching in a “Campus” Network”

Tim
September 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I have had the hardest time getting the NM-16ESW cards to work in either the 3640s or the 3725s. I have not been able to get it to work from the GUI. This mulilayer switching lab was exactly what I was looking for. I had to tweak some things to work on my PC, but other than that it worked like a champ!! Thank you very much for the work you put into this!!
collision
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:23 am
Thanks for this great work, works like a charm, keep it up please
Tim
October 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
One more thing. In my studies for my BCMSN I read about Cisco’s Enterprise Composite Network Model. In it they suggest that VLANs should terminate at the distribution switches. They should not be sent on to the Core layer. Separate layer 3 links should be used to connect distritbution switches to the Core. Thanks.
Pierky
October 5th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Yes Tim, of course, it’s not a good idea to send Vlans to the Core layer!
I wrote this in the text too!

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Mazher
October 17th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I am having problem in opeing NET file. I can open other net file which I created earlier but when I downloaded your net file and tried to open the file its giving me

Warning: could not connect to dynamic server 127.0.0.1:7200
Warning : could not connect to dynamic server 127.0.0.1:7201

Can anybody help me out.
LBSources
October 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I think I had the same issues..

Open the .net file in notpad and do a CTRL+H

Find 127.0.0.1
Replace with localhost

That should do it.
grichardson661
November 17th, 2008 at 10:39 am
This looks pretty sweet, nice work Pierky! Will have a bash at this over the next few days!

Garry
Nityanand
November 30th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I have used the same IOS c3640-jk9s-mz.124-16.bin in my topology.I have added VLANs and configured the trunk links but the VLAN interfaces other than VLAN 1 are showing not up.Line protocol not up.Please suggest me how I can rectify this.
zafer
January 4th, 2009 at 9:46 am
i want to study for BCMSN, and i am new in this web site. thanks for your lab, it seems very beneficial, i have a question. you mention EIGRP in tihs lab. for BCMSN, is it necessary to know it, or any routing protocol. and should i study BSCI before BCMSN?
pierky
January 4th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Hi,

thank you, I enjoy my lab it’s helpful for you.

As far as I can remember you dont need to study routing protocols for BCMSN, there is not a specific order for exams; for CCNP I had, in order, BSCI, BCMSN, ISCW and ONT and I can tell I never had problems (for example, reading about an argument and having no idea about it). Anyway I suggest you to study BSCI/BCMSN prior to ISCW and ONT.

Bye
Sebastiano
January 15th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Great lab…

Guys I have a question: do you think that I can pass the BCMSN exam only studying with GNS3???

For the BSCI it worked because with dynamips you can emulate all the routers and fuctionality needed… but for the BCMSN I have some doubt!!!

thank you so much for the lab and for your support!!!

bye bye
pierky
January 15th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Thanks!

I think you can pass the exam if you mean without using real hardware. You can use the NM-16ESW module, as you can see in this and in others labs. Of course I think you have to read some books!

Have fun,

Pierky
Sebastiano
January 15th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Thank you for your response!

I’m reading the cisco official guide plus some exercise with testk…

Thaks again
LBSources
January 15th, 2009 at 8:21 am
@Sebastiano .. If you want to really master the switching and the BCMSN you should buy switches and a quad Ethernet card and plug them into GNS3. At least you would save money.

From what I’ve heard, GNS3 doesn’t offer enough to support all the of the BCMSN material. I don’t know I’m still on the BSCI.

…LBS
charley
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I am still having problem when open the .net file, got Dynamips error “nonexistent device PC3″.
Please help..
kabtop
February 5th, 2009 at 5:19 am
@lbsources,
Would one switch be okay ?
Getting even one switch from my end would be very hard but i wana save as much as i can to get this switches and pursue d ccie cert
Sebastiano
February 27th, 2009 at 9:37 am
BCMSN Passed! 50 questions, 864/1000 and a bit of luck!!!

Two simulations and guess what? I got two questions on IPv6 and OSPFv3!!!

JUST CRAZY!!!

How can they put questions on IPv6 and OSPFv3??? Neither the official guide nor the cisco website list IPv6 and OSPFv3 on the exam specs!!!

Anyway I’m satisfied, I think it’s a good score for one month and a half of part-time study on the BCMSN official guide and the gns3 lab (provided by Pierky, Thank you).

Thank you all for your support!

Bye bye
pierky
February 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I’m happy to see my lab useful to someone!
Congrats for your BCMSN!
neophyte
February 27th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
great lab pierky, thanks for sharing…
LBSources
March 1st, 2009 at 10:03 am
That is awesome! Thanks for letting us know Sebastiano .. Good work Pierky!
ekim turker
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
i have question:
i examined backbone switches configuration of an isp company. they made all the switches(distrubution and access layer switches) in transparent mode. do you have an idea why access layer switches are not in client mode and dist. layer switches are not in server mode? as a bcmsn student, i am really confused.
pierky
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Hi Ekim, nice question!

Does the company really need VTP? If you have to handle just a few vlans I think VTP could only be a dangerous toy. Transparent is the only mode granting a local scope for changes in Vlan configuration; with all switches in transparent mode you don’t risk to flush all vlan databases in one second!

Maybe this could be one reason…

I think a better knowledge about the network would give us a more accurate answer.
GNS3 Lab: Multilayer Switching in a “Campus” Network « Pierky’s Blog
March 6th, 2009 at 7:38 am
[...] Open this lab on GNS3-Labs.com [...]
Naif
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:17 am
Hi all…
I think the answer is that “Cisco recommended” not using vlans trunking in core switches but using routing table to send data.. so the vtp wann’t work on non trunk cables. There THE BACKBONE SWs should be in transparent mode ”

I GUESS
pierky
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Hi Naif, I fully agree with you, I did it just to have a bigger spanning-tree diameter.

For a better design you can take a look at my other post: http://www.gns3-labs.com/2009/03/07/core-and-2-distribution-blocks-with-l3-and-l2-access-switches/

Bye
Naif
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Thanks Pierky ..I ll follow
chikkis
June 28th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Hi

i am trying to make voice lab. In my campus lan i am trying to have two vlans.
one for voice and one for data. The ip phone would on be assigned Voice Vlan and PC will assigned data VLAN. I need help on configuring this.

Thanks
Chikki
rescarro
July 6th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Hi Chikki/All,

Does the NM-16ESW support the “voice vlan xx” command? Does it support 802.1q VLAN tagging? Is there another way for a phone and pc to share one single fastethernet port? Or is this only feasible with physical switch? Will maybe linksys CE500 would do… hmmm

I am new to the site and saw lots of Pierky’s Lab which is great. Most of them are really neat since it follow cisco’s srnd. Great Job Pierky!!

Thanks and keep it up for us starters.
pierky
July 6th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Hi, thanks for your comment!

NM-16ESW does support “switchport voice vlan” command and it does support 802.1q VLAN tagging.
Sry, I don’t know CE500: can you provide a link to the product detail page?

Bye
rescarro
July 6th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6571/index.html <— A hardware thats more cheap than C3500 or C2900 which supports POE and 802.1q for guys testing IP Phones. I think this is made by linksys so its cheaper.

Well IP communicator or IP blue does the job also… but just in case you have IP Phones you can play around.

Thanks for the great support.

Bye
pierky
July 7th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
It seems it supports voice vlans and 802.1q!

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps6545/product_data_sheet0900aecd80322aeb.html

Bye
william_23
August 14th, 2009 at 3:33 am
gracias ,thanks.
I Peru comentarios en spañol sera agradecido
comments in Spanish will be grateful
siva
October 4th, 2009 at 2:25 am
hi,

guys

i need a samll help frm u people.

cud u pls help me to how to configure switches in gns3.

do i need any ios for switches l2 n l3.

i have connected all the switches with fastethernet links but mwen i was trying 2 right click on my switches there were no options to start the switch n i donno where to open the terminal n configure vlans, encapsulation etc

so pls help me as soon as possible

waiting for ur replys
pierky
October 4th, 2009 at 5:23 am
Hi Siva, in GNS3 switches cannot be configured, they are just L2 switches with VLANs and trunks. I suggest you to read the follwing posts:

GNS3 Tutorials: BlindHog - How to build a switching lab @ http://www.gns3-labs.com/2008/07/25/gns3-tutorials-blindhog-how-to-build-a-switching-lab/

GNS3 Tutorials: BlindHog - How to build a switching lab Part 2 @ http://www.gns3-labs.com/2008/07/29/gns3-tutorials-blindhog-how-to-build-a-switching-lab-part-2/

Bye,

Pierky
Steph
October 24th, 2009 at 11:14 am
I am haveing problem with getting this lab network file to load over to GNS3. I am getting an error message in GNS3 “nonexistent device a2″ when i try to load the network file.

Keep up the good jobs on the labs.

Cheers.