Multi-Layer Switching

Layers 1, 2, and 3

Cisco Hierarchical Model

Access Layer
Workgroup
Access layer aggregation and L3/L4 services

Distribution Layer
Services, Server Farms
ACLs, Queues; policy-based connectivity

Core Layer
Rapid Packet Switching
Optimal connectivity between blocks
NOTE: Different Layers require difference devices

Distribution Layer Functions

Address or area aggregation

Departmental or workgroup access
Broadcast/multicast domain definition
VLAN routing
Any media transitions that need to occur
Security
Can be a redistribution point between routing domains or the
demarcation between static and dynamic routing protocols
Can be point at which remote sites access the corporate
network.

Access Layer Functions

Shared bandwidth
Switched bandwidth
MAC-layer filtering
Microsegmentation
The way the layers are implemented depends on the
needs of the network being designed
For a network to function optimally and maintain
scalability as growth occurs, hierarchy must be
maintained.

Resource Usage
Two common types of broadcasts that poll the network
IP Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests
NetBIOS name requests.
normally propagated across an entire subnet and expect the target
device to respond directly to the broadcast.

Multicast traffic can also consume a large amount of

bandwidth.
Multicast traffic is propagated to a specific group of users
can consume most, if not all, of the network resources.
An example of a multicast implementation is the Cisco IP/TV solution,
which uses multicast packets to transport multimedia such as audio and
video.

80/20 Rule
Now Reversed
No more than 20 percent of the network traffic should move
across the backbone of the network.
Now 80% goes across backbone because
Server Farms
Internet

Improve Network Performance by:

Moving resources such as applications, software programs, and files
from one server to another to
contain traffic locally within a
workgroup.
Moving users logically, if not physically, so that the workgroups reflect
the actual traffic patterns.
Adding servers so that users can access them locally without having to
cross the backbone.

Designing for New Realities

Fast convergence
This requirement stipulates that the network must be able to
adapt very quickly to changes in the network topology

Deterministic paths
Alows for a device or an administrator to make decision based
on the desirability of a path

Redundancy
Ensures network is available at all times

Scalability
Changes can be made without radical topology changes

Centralized Services e.g. Server Farms

New Realities
New 20/80 rule
Multicasting
Multiprotocol Support

Services
Local services
On local LAN

Remote services
May be close but are on different LAN

Enterprise services
Services common to all users -- e-mail, Internet
access, and videoconferencing
Place in common subnet close to backbone

Layer 2 Switching
PDU is FRAME
Workgroup Connectivity & network segmentation

Hardware-based bridging
Wire-speed performance
High Speed Scalability
Low Latency
MAC Address
Low Cost

Some of characteristics of legacy bridging

Broadcast domain
Scaling and performance issues

Layer 3 Switching
Hardware-based routing place switch any where
Packet forwarding is handled by specialized
hardware ASICs.
goal is to capture the speed of switching and the scalability of
routing.
Layer 3 switch acts on a packet as a router would
Determining the forwarding path based on Layer 3
information
Validating the integrity the L 3 header via checksum
Verifying packet expiration and updates accordingly
Processing and responding to any option information
Updating forwarding statistics in the Management
Information Base (MIB)
Applying security controls if required
Implementing quality of service (QoS

Layer 4 Switching
Layer 3 hardware-based routing that accounts for Layer 4
control information
ability to make forwarding decisions based on L4 parameters
such as port number as well as MAC address or
source/destination IP address

Control Layer 4 switching

Extended ACL lists
NetFlow Switching, utilized on the Cisco 7200 and 7500 router
platforms
Prioritize traffic by type of application
Requires high-speed performance switch with extensive memory
to support tables and table processing

Multilayer Switching
Combines Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing
functionality
moves campus traffic at wire speed and at same time
satisfies Layer 3 routing requirements
Accelerates routing performance through the use of
dedicated ASICs.
MLS can operate at Layer 3 or 4.
When operating as a Layer 3 switch, the switch caches flows
based on IP addresses.
When operating as a Layer 4 switch, the switch caches
conversations based on source address, destination address, source
port, and destination port

Network Building Blocks

Campus elements:
Switch block
Core block

Contributing variables:

Server block
WAN block
Mainframe block
Internet connectivity

Switch Block
Contains both router and switch functionality
The distribution device can be one of the following:
switch and external router combination
Multi-layer switch

A switch may support one or more subnets.

subnet must reside within one broadcast domain.
all stations residing in or ports configured on the same VLAN
are assigned network addresses within the same subnet.
The broadcast-isolation feature of VLANs is the characteristic
that allows VLANs to be identified with subnets.

Spanning Tree
Access devices have redundant connections,
or uplinks, to the distribution switch to
maintain resiliency.
Spanning-Tree Protocol allows these
redundant links to exist while preventing
undesirable loops in the switch block.
The Spanning-Tree Protocol terminates at
the boundary of the switch block

Scaling the Switch Block

Depends on different types and patterns of traffic
Amount of Layer 3 switching capacity at the distribution
layer
Number of users per access-layer switch
Extent to which subnets need to traverse geographical
locations within the network
Size to which the Spanning-Tree domains should be
allowed to grow
Sizing the switch block involves two main factors:
Traffic types and behavior
Size and number of workgroups

The Core Traffic

The core can consist of one subnet;
For resiliency and load balancing, at least two subnets are
configured.

Because VLANs terminate at the distribution device,

core links are not trunk links and traffic is routed across
the core.
core links do not carry multiple VLANs per link.
One or more switches make up a core subnet

Two basic core designs:

Collapsed core
Dual core

Layer 3 Backbone Scaling

Fast convergence
Automatic load balancing
Elimination of peering problems
Performance Issues