CATALYST SWITCH
OPERATION
Objectives
Describe Layer 2 switching (bridging) operations
Describe the switch operations
Configure switch
Loop Avoidance through STP
Use show commands to verify switch configuration
and operations
What is Switching ?
It breaks the Collision Domain
It
takes the packet and forwards to
destined port without any modification.
Networkstill remains in one large
Broadcast Domain.
It increases bandwidth of the network.
Multiple devices can be connected to each
interface.
Switches versus Bridges
Switches are nothing but bridges with more
ports, with certain important differences:
Bridges are software based while Switches are
hardware based. Using ASIC (Application
Specific Integrated Circuit) chip to make filtering
decision.
Bridges can only have one Spanning-Tree
Instance per bridge, while switches can have
many.
Bridges can have only 16 ports, while switches
can have hundreds
Bridges are self managed while switches are
manageable.
Switching Technology
To understand Switching Technology we need
to understand the following :
Layer 2 Switching
Address Learning
Forward/Filtering Decisions
Loop Avoidance
Spanning-Tree Protocol
LAN Switch Types
Layer 2 Switching
This is hardware based switching
It uses MAC address to filter the network.
To build Filter Table, it uses ASICs
(Application-specific Integrated Circuits)
It is like Multiport bridge.
Layer 2 switches do not look at the Network
layer header and hence faster.
Based on hardware address it decides
whether to forward the packet or drop it.
Layer 2 Switching provides the following:
Hardware-based bridging (MAC)
Wire speed
Layer 2 switch is considered faster because no
modification in the packet.
Low Latency
Because the switching is faster
Low cost
Three Main Functions of a Switch
Address learning
Forward/filter decision
Loop avoidance
How Switches Learn Host
Locations
MAC address table
A B
0260.8c01.1111 0260.8c01.3333
E0 E1
C E2 E3 D
0260.8c01.2222 0260.8c01.4444
• Initial MAC address table is empty
How Switches Learn Hosts
Locations
MAC address table
E0: 0260.8c01.1111
A B
0260.8c01.1111 0260.8c01.3333
E0 E1
C D
E2 E3
0260.8c01.2222 0260.8c01.4444
• Station A sends a frame to Station C
• Switch caches station A MAC address to port E0 by learning
the source address of data frames
• The frame from station A to station C is flooded out to all
ports except port E0
(unknown unicasts are flooded)
How Switches Learn Host
Locations
MAC address table
E0: 0260.8c01.1111
E3: 0260.8c01.4444
A B
0260.8c01.1111 0260.8c01.3333
E0 E1
C E2 E3 D
0260.8c01.2222 0260.8c01.4444
• Station D sends a frame to station C
• Switch caches station D MAC address to port E3 by learning the
source Address of data frames
• The frame from station D to station C is flooded out to all ports
except port E3 (unknown unicasts are flooded)
Address Learning
Switches and Bridges remember the source address of
each frame received on an interface and enter this
information into MAC database.
Whenever switch receives a packet it makes an entry
of the source address and sends a broadcast for
destination.
The destination machine then responds to broadcast
and switch receives a packet from destination.
Switch again makes entry for the destination
machine’s hardware address.
Using this method Switch maintains a table stating that
which hardware address is available at which port.
How Switches Filter Frames
MAC address table
E0: 0260.8c01.1111
E2: 0260.8c01.2222
A E1: 0260.8c01.3333 B
E3: 0260.8c01.4444
0260.8c01.1111 0260.8c01.3333
E0 E1
X
C
E2
XE3 D
0260.8c01.2222 0260.8c01.4444
Station A sends a frame to station C
Destination is known, frame is not flooded
Forward / Filter Decisions
When a frame is received on an interface, the switch looks at the
destination hardware address and finds the exit interface in the MAC
database.
If found the packet will be forwarded to the mentioned port
If not found the Broadcast / Multicast is sent on all the ports and
the exit port for this particular address is determined.
Broadcast and Multicast
Frames
MAC address table
E0: 0260.8c01.1111
A E2: 0260.8c01.2222 B
E1: 0260.8c01.3333
E3: 0260.8c01.4444
0260.8c01.1111 0260.8c01.3333
E0 E1
C E2 E3 D
0260.8c01.2222 0260.8c01.4444
• Station D sends a broadcast or multicast frame
• Broadcast and multicast frames are flooded to
all ports other than the originating port
Broadcast /Multicast
When packets are sent to a specific machine
that is called Unicast.
It always knows the destination address
When packets are sent to few selected or a
group of machines that is called Multicast.
This does not know the destination no. but it knows
the network no. (few 1s &0s and rest all 1s)
Whenpackets are sent to all that is called
Broadcast.
It the destination address will be all 1s.
Redundant Topology
Server/host X Router Y
Segment 1
Segment 2
Redundant topology eliminates single points of failure
Redundant topology causes broadcast storms, multiple frame copies, and MAC
address table instability problems
Broadcast Storms
Server/host X Router Y
Segment 1
Broadcast
Switch A Switch B
Segment 2
Host X sends a Broadcast
Broadcast Storms
Server/host X Router Y
Segment 1
Broadcast
Switch A Switch B
Segment 2
Host X sends a Broadcast
Broadcast Storms
Server/host X Router Y
Segment 1
Switch A Broadcast Switch B
Segment 2
Switches continue to propagate broadcast traffic over
and over
Multiple Frame Copies
Server/host X Unicast Router Y
Segment 1
Switch A Switch B
Segment 2
• Host X sends an unicast frame to router Y
• Router Y MAC address has not been learned by either
switch yet
Multiple Frame Copies
Server/host X Unicast Router Y
Segment 1
Unicast
Unicast
Switch A Switch B
Segment 2
• Host X sends an unicast frame to Router Y
• Router Y MAC Address has not been learned by
either Switch yet
• Router Y will receive two copies of the same frame
MAC Database Instability
Server/host X Router Y
Segment 1
Unicast Unicast
Port 0 Port 0
Switch A Switch B
Port 1 Port 1
Segment 2
• Host X sends an unicast frame to Router Y
• Router Y MAC Address has not been learned by either
Switch yet
• Switch A and B learn Host X MAC address on port 0
MAC Database Instability
Server/host X Router Y
Segment 1
Unicast Unicast
Port 0 Port 0
Switch A Switch B
Port 1 Port 1
Segment 2
• Host X sends an unicast frame to Router Y
• Router Y MAC Address has not been learned by either Switch yet
• Switch A and B learn Host X MAC address on port 0
• Frame to Router Y is flooded
• Switch A and B incorrectly learn Host X MAC address on port 1
Multiple Loop Problems
Server/host
Broadcast
Loop
Loop
Loop
Workstations
Complex topology can cause multiple loops to occur
Layer 2 has no mechanism to stop the loop
Loop Avoidance
Ifmultiple connections between switches are
created for redundancy, network loops can
occur.
Most commonly networks are implemented with
redundant links for fault tolerance purpose.
These multiple links may cause loops and
broadcast storm
In a switched network some scheme should be
implemented to avoid these loops.
The Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) is used to stop
network loops and allow redundancy.
Loop Occuring
In this scenario if no loop avoidance scheme is
implemented the switch will generate a broadcast
storm.
A device can receive multiple copy of same frames.
The MAC address table will be continuously updated
and the table itself will be confused, because frames
will be received from more than one link. This is called
“thrashing” MAC Table.
This is how loops within other loop will be generated
and no switching will be performed in the network.
Note : Spanning Tree Protocol is designed to solve this
problem.
Solution: Spanning-Tree Protocol
x Block
Provides a loop free redundant network topology by
placing certain ports in the blocking state
Spanning-Tree Protocol
Themain function of STP is to maintain a
loop free network.
Originally STP was created by DEC (Now
Compaq)
It was modified by IEEE and was published in
802.1d specification.
DEC and IEEE 802.1d are not compatible
All CISCO switches run on IEEE802.1d version of
STP
Spanning-Tree Operations
• One root bridge per network
• One root port per non-root bridge
• One designated port per segment
100baseT
Designated port (F) Root port (F)
Root bridge Non-root bridge
SW X SW Y
Designated port (F)
xNon-designated port (B)
10baseT
Bridge Protocol Data Units
Switches and Bridges running STP exchange
information with something called BPDUs.
BPDUs send Broadcast messages using
multicast frames.
BridgeID of each device is sent to other device
using BPDUs.
Spanning-Tree Protocol
Root Bridge Selection
Switch X Switch Y
Default priority 32768 BPDU Default priority 32768
(8000 hex) (8000 hex)
MAC 0c0011111111 MAC 0c0022222222
BPDU = Bridge protocol data unit
(default = sent every 2 seconds)
Root bridge = Bridge with the lowest bridge ID
Bridge ID = Bridge priority + bridge MAC address
In the example, which switch has the lowest bridge ID?
Spanning-Tree Protocol
Port States
100baseT
Designated port (F) Root port (F)
Port 0 Port 0
Switch X Switch Y
Default priority 32768 Root bridge Default priority 32768
MAC 0c0011111111 MAC 0c0022222222
Port 1 Port 1
Designated port (F)
x Nondesignated port (B)
10baseT
Spanning-Tree Protocol
Path Cost
Link Speed Cost (reratify IEEE spec) Cost (previous IEEE spec)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Gbps 2 1
1 Gbps 4 1
100 Mbps 19 10
10 Mbps 100 100
How STP Works
STP continuously monitors the network for a
failure or addition of a link, switch or bridge.
Whenever there is a change in topology, it
reconfigures switch or bridge to avoid a total
loss of connectivity or creation of new loops.
STP is by-default enabled in Catalyst switches.
STP provides a loop-free network by following:
Electing a Root Bridge
Root Port for a Non-root Bridge
Designated port for Each Segment
Spanning-Tree:
Switch Z
Mac 0c0011110000
Default priority 32768
Port 0
100baseT
Port 0 Port 0
Switch X Switch Y
MAC 0c0011111111 MAC 0c0022222222
Default priority 32768 Default priority 32768
Port 1 Port 1
100baseT
Can you figure out:
• What is the root bridge?
• What are the designated, non-designated, and root ports?
• Which are the forwarding and blocking ports?
Spanning-Tree:
Switch Z
Mac 0c0011110000
Default priority 32768
Port 0
Designated port (F)
100baseT
Port 0 Root port (F) Port 0 Root port (F)
Switch X Switch Y
MAC 0c0011111111 MAC 0c0022222222
Default priority 32768 Default priority 32768
Port 1 Port 1
Designated port (F) Nondesignated port (BLK)
100baseT
Can you figure out:
• What is the root bridge?
• What are the designated, non-designated, and root ports?
• Which are the forwarding and blocking ports?
Electing Root Bridge
In one Broadcast Domain only one Bridge is designated
as Root Bridge.
All Ports on the Root Bridge are in Forwarding State and
are called Designated Port
All ports in forwarding state can send and receive traffic.
Bridge ID is used to determine the Root Bridge and Root
Port.
Bridge ID includes the priority and the MAC Address of
the device.
Root Port for a Non-root
Bridge
The
Root Port is the lowest cost path from a
Non-Root Bridge to the Root Bridge.
Spanning Tree Path Cost is an accumulated cost
based on bandwidth.
More Bandwidth - Less Cost
In the event that the cost is the same then the
deciding factor would be the lowest port no.
Root Ports are in forwarding state.
Designated Port
There will be only one Designated Port in one
Segment.
Designated Port is selected on the bridge that
has the lowest cost path to Root Bridge.
Designated Port is in the forwarding state.
Responsible for forwarding traffic for the
segmentation
Nondesignated Ports are normally in the blocking
state to break the loop topology. That means the
Spanning Tree is preventing it from forwarding
traffic.
Spanning-Tree Port States
Spanning-tree transitions each port
through several different state:
Blocking
Listening
Learning
Forwarding
Spanning Tree Port State
Blocking : Won’t forward frames; listens to
BPDUs. All ports are in blocking state by
default when the switch is powered up.
Listening: Listens to BPDUs to make sure
no loops occur on the network before
passing data frames.
Learning : Learns MAC addresses and builds
a filter table but does not forward frames.
Forwarding : Sends and receives all data on
the bridged port.
Spanning-Tree Recalculation
100baseT
Designated port Root port (F)
Port 0 Port 0
Switch X Switch Y
MAC 0c0011111111 MAC 0c0022222222
Default priority 32768 Root Bridge Default priority 32768
Port 1 Port 1
Designated port
x Nondesignated port (BLK)
10baseT
Spanning-Tree Recalculation
100baseT
Designated port Root port (F)
Port 0 Port 0
x
Switch X MAXAGE
x
Switch Y
MAC 0c0011111111 MAC 0c0022222222
Default priority 32768 Root Bridge Default priority 32768
Port 1 BPDU Port 1
Designated port
x Nondesignated port (BLK)
10baseT
Key Issue: Time to
Convergence
• Convergence occurs when all the
switches and bridge ports have
transitioned to either the forwarding or
blocking state.
• When network topology changes,
switches and bridges must recomputed
the Spanning-Tree Protocol, which
disrupts user traffic.
Bridging Compared to LAN
Switching
Bridging
Primarily software based
One spanning-tree instance per bridge
Usually up to 16 ports per bridge
LAN Switching
Primarily hardware based (ASIC)
Many spanning-tree instances per switch
More ports on a switch
Transmitting Frames Through a
Switch
Cut-through
Switch checks destination
address and immediately begins
forwarding frame
Frame
Transmitting Frames through a
Switch
Cut-through Store and forward
Switch checks destination
Complete frame is received and
address and immediately begins checked before forwarding
forwarding frame
Frame Frame
Frame
Frame
Transmitting Frames through a
Switch
Cut-through Store and forward
Switch checks destination Complete frame is received and
address and immediately begins checked before forwarding
forwarding frame
Frame Frame
Frame
Frame
Fragment free
(modified cut-through)
Switch checks the first 64 bytes then immediately
begins forwarding frame
Frame
Duplex Overview
Switch
Half duplex (CSMA/CD)
• Unidirectional data flow
• Higher potential for collison Hub
• Hubs connectivity
Duplex Overview
Switch
Half duplex (CSMA/CD)
• Unidirectional data flow
• Higher potential for collison Hub
• Hubs connectivity
Full duplex
• Point-to-point only
• Attached to dedicated switched port
• Requires full-duplex support on both ends
• Collision free
• Collision detect circuit disabled
Configuring the Switch
Ports on the Catalyst Switch
Ports on the Catalyst Switch
wg_sw_d#sh run
wg_sw_d#sh spanning-tree
Building configuration...
Port Ethernet 0/1 of VLAN1 is Forwarding
Current configuration:
Port path cost 100, Port priority 128
!
Designated root has priority 32768, address 0090.8673.3340
!
Designated bridge has priority 32768, address 0090.8673.3340
interface Ethernet 0/1
Designated port is Ethernet 0/1, path cost 0
!
Timers: message age 20, forward delay 15, hold 1
interface Ethernet 0/2
wg_sw_a#show vlan
Port VLAN Membership Type Port VLAN Membership Type
------------------------------------------------------------------
1 5 Static 13 1 Static
2 1 Static 14 1 Static
3 1 Static 15 1 Static
Configuring the Switch
Configuration Modes
Global configuration mode
wg_sw_a# conf term
wg_sw_a(config)#
Interface configuration mode
wg_sw_a(config)# interface fa0/1
wg_sw_a(config-if)#
Configuring the Switch IP
Address
wg_sw_a(config)#
ip address {ip address} {mask}
Configuring the Switch IP
Address
wg_sw_a(config)#
ip address {ip address} {mask}
wg_sw_a(config)#int vlan 1
wg_sw_a(config-if)#ip address 10.5.5.11 255.255.255.0
Managing Mac Address Table
wg_sw_a#show mac-address-table
Managing Mac Address Table
wg_sw_a#show mac-address-table
wg_sw_a#sh mac-address-table
Number of permanent addresses : 0
Number of restricted static addresses : 0
Number of dynamic addresses : 6
Address Dest Interface Type Source Interface List
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
00E0.1E5D.AE2F Ethernet 0/2 Dynamic All
00D0.588F.B604 FastEthernet 0/26 Dynamic All
00E0.1E5D.AE2B FastEthernet 0/26 Dynamic All
0090.273B.87A4 FastEthernet 0/26 Dynamic All
00D0.588F.B600 FastEthernet 0/26 Dynamic All
00D0.5892.38C4 FastEthernet 0/27 Dynamic All
Clear NVRAM
wg_sw_d#erase startup
Resets the system configuration to factory defaults.
Summary
Aftercompleting this chapter, you should be able
to perform the following tasks:
Describe Layer 2 switching (bridging) operations
Describe the switch operations
Configure switch
Control of Loops
Use show commands to verify switch configuration and
operations
