Achieving convergence in computer networks is something that is controlled by both routers and switches in the network. The basic purpose of creating a computer network is to share resources and offer communication between hosts. Local Area Network (LAN) communication deals with switches, while internetwork connectivity (i.e between different LANs or WANs) requires the use […]
Deleting the VLAN Database from a Cisco Switch (IOS or Nexus)
If you have your own Cisco switch equipment at your home lab or at your work environment you might have encountered the situation that you want to completely erase the whole switch configuration including any VLANs that are already configured on the switch (usually the vlan.dat file). On a Cisco switch, erasing the switch startup […]
What is Cisco Virtual Port Channel (vPC) – Explained and Discussed
Designing a network with high availability in mind is a vital aspect of network architecture. Employing redundancy in both physical network links as well as network devices is a fundamental part of such design. Cisco’s Virtual Port Channel (vPC) is a technology that delivers a high degree of redundancy, providing mission-critical enterprise and datacenter networks […]
Discussion and Explanation of BPDU Guard (With Cisco Config Example)
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is a mechanism that is used on network switches to eliminate layer 2 loops. Within the framework of STP operations, there are various additional features that can be enabled to further protect a topology from malicious users that may attempt to leverage STP to their advantage. BPDU Guard is one of […]
From Reactive to Proactive: Mastering Network Performance with Switch Monitoring
You’re the IT manager at a rapidly growing company. Your network, once manageable, has become increasingly complex with the growing infrastructure. Users are experiencing intermittent slowdowns and connectivity issues, causing frustration and impacting productivity. Reacting and troubleshooting these issues takes valuable time away from your core IT responsibilities. Users report intermittent slowdowns and occasional connection […]
How Does a Network Switch Learn MAC Addresses?
A switch is a network device that interconnects host devices at Layer 2 of the OSI model. In order to perform its function correctly, it must be able to learn the MAC addresses of the connected hosts and maintain them in a MAC address table. In this article, I’ll explain in detail how a switch […]
How to Find a Device MAC Address on a Cisco Switch (show mac address-table)
When performing troubleshooting or maintenance tasks on an enterprise network, it is sometimes necessary to identify the MAC address of particular devices (hosts, other switches, other network devices) that are connected to the network. On smaller networks, this is somewhat simple to achieve, however, on larger networks, it can become a challenge. In this article, […]
How to Configure a Loopback Interface on Cisco Router & Switch
A loopback interface is a virtual interface that can be created within a network device and behaves much the same as a physical interface. Loopback interfaces can be configured on a Cisco router or a switch and have many uses. In this article, we’ll examine what they are, how they can be configured, and how […]
Cisco Switch Layer2 Layer3 Design and Configuration
Layer2 and Layer3 switches are the foundation of any network. After all, any network devices (routers, firewalls, computers, servers etc) have to be connected to a switch. Sooner or later, as a network engineer you will be faced with the task of deploying a switch network for a customer or for your own company. Therefore, learning […]
Description of Switchport Mode Access vs Trunk Modes on Cisco Switches
In this article, we will discuss a couple of core concepts of network switching which are about Access and Trunk ports and how to configure them using “switchport mode access” and “switchport mode trunk” commands on Cisco switches We will also delve into what a VLAN is, why they’re used and how all of this […]
What is an SFP Port-Module in Network Switches and Devices
A Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) Port on a network switch is an Ethernet Interface which has been designed to allow a small module (which contains a connector and small circuit board) to be inserted into the switch. This device is called an SFP Module. There are different types of SFP modules and SFP ports, […]
8 Different Types of VLANs in TCP/IP Networks
A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a fundamental concept in TCP/IP computer networks and every professional in this field must have a deep understanding of this technology. In networking, VLANs are implemented and configured on Ethernet Switches and they work at OSI Layer 2. They are a method to logically separate Layer 2 Ethernet […]
The Most Important Cisco Show Commands You Must Know (Cheat Sheet)
If you are a networking professional that is operating and supporting Cisco devices and networks, then learning some important “show commands” is essential. There are a few different categories of commands on Cisco devices. There are commands that configure the device to perform a certain function and also there are commands that extract information from […]