CECS 474 COMPUTER NETWORKING INTEROPERABILITY

Netlab 4: Managed Switches

Exercises: Spanning Tree Protocol

1) What is the priority Hex value for the configured port? Verify the decimal value.
Priority Hex value for the configured port is 0x80 and its decimal value is 128.
2) What is the Root ID?
The Root ID is 32768.
3) What is the Root Cost?
The Root Cost is 0.
4) What is the state of the port that you configured?
The state of the configured port is forwarding.
5) Based on this information, what observations can you make about the Spanning
tree?
It was observed that the spanning tree protects from endless broadcast loops i.e. only one
uplink is good to go to the core switch. And this switch is the root.
Exercises: Virtual LANs
1) What is the purpose of using VLANs?
VLAN provides network isolation. A Layer 2 (L2) switch is a device capable of grouping
subsets of its ports into virtual broadcast domains isolated from each other. These
domains are commonly known as virtual LANs (VLANs).
2) What is the difference between Trunking and VLAN tagging?
Tunking: It refers to configuring an uplink comprised of multiple physical ports, which
are configured to act like one logical connection. It shares the traffic load between two or
more ports in each switch.

Tagging: Tagging is done when you have multiple VLANs that need to span from one
switch to another. You need to tag all of the VLANs except for that ports primary
network so that they can pass through the uplink.
3) Why do you think network isolation (or segmenting) is important?
Isolation (or segmenting) is significant in order to guarantee that a set of computers can
communicate without others receiving the packets (e.g. broadcasts) and without receiving
packets from outsiders.
4) Were you successful in setting up your VLAN? How did you test that your VLAN
was functioning properly?
Yes, we were successful in setting up the VLAN and it was functioning properly because
it was listed in the VLANS in the Putty CLI, beside the default VLAN as VLAN 40.
5) What problems did you encounter in this exercise?
We lost connection to the managed switch however it got resolved by rebooting our
system.
6) Given the configuration that you just completed, what do you think the next steps
would be to create an uplink so that your VLAN traffic can travel to another
switch?
To create an uplink so that your VLAN traffic can travel to another switch, we need to tag
our VLAN through the uplink.
7) In your opinion, which method of configuring a switch is best: CLI or a web based
GUI? Why?
In my opinion, GUI is better option to configure a switch because it is manageable and
user-friendly.
8) Price the options for purchasing a switch for a company. For approximately the
same speed and number of ports, how much does a switch cost with VLAN
capability? Without VLAN capability?
VLAN-Switch with layer 2 capability: 1500$, is slightly less costly than purchasing say,
6 single switches.