Communication Networks II Ethernet Exercise 1
Communication Networks II Ethernet Exercise 1
Communication Networks II Ethernet Exercise 1
Communication Networks II
Exercise 1
Part 1
Ethernet
Consider the LAN depicted in Figure 1. Three identical stations are connected to a
common bus.
Station C
Station A
Station B
Figure 1:
Communication Networks II
Page 1
Exercise 1
Ethernet
A
Repeater 1
Repeater 2
Segment 1
Segment 2
Figure 2:
Question 2
Name reasons why the repeaters might have been installed, as opposed to using only one (longer) segment.
In an alternative LAN structure one multiport bridge (or "Ethernet Layer-2 Switch")
interconnects all LAN segments, as shown in Figure 3.
Segment 3
Port identifier
B1
1
Segment 1
Figure 3:
Question 3
Segment 2
a) Explain why the Ethernet bridge splits the network into several independent CSMA/CD collision domains, but the repeaters did not.
What is the advantage of having several independent collision domains?
b) What is the advantage of an Interworking Unit (IWU) that knows the
topological location of the stations (e. g., the bridge), as opposed to
an IWU that does not (e. g., the repeaters)?
c) Draw the basic structure of an Ethernet frame (MAC-layer PDU).
d) Explain why the field "Source Address" in the Ethernet PDU is useful and how it is processed.
Communication Networks II
Page 2
Exercise 1
Ethernet
Part 2
Consider the Ethernet LAN topology with multiport bridges depicted in Figure 4. For
now, assume that the dashed link and the corresponding bridge ports are not there.
They will be added later. Furthermore, assume that all systems have been powered
up just now, i. e., the forwarding data bases of all bridges are empty.
1
B2
3
2
B1
1
1
2
4
C
Figure 4:
B3
B4
3
Describe how the frame is transmitted through the network. For each
traversed bridge describe the actions performed by the bridge upon reception of the frame. Sketch the forwarding data bases of all four bridges.
Now, a direct link between bridges B1 and B4 is added (dashed line in Figure 4).
Assume that after installing the additional link all systems have been reset, i. e., the
forwarding data bases of all bridges are empty again. For now, assume that the
"Spanning Tree Algorithm" is not in use. Station A sends another Ethernet frame destined to station D.
Question 5
Communication Networks II
Page 3
Exercise 1
Ethernet
For bridge B3 all Ethernet cables are unplugged and reconnected in a different order,
i. e., the assignment of local port identifiers to the connected LAN segments changes
(see Figure 5).
1
B2
3
2
B1
1
Question 7
2
2
4
B4
C
Figure 5:
B3
Communication Networks II
Page 4
Communication Networks II
to output
ports ...
Therefore, the
bridge ... the
frame
Is destination
station known
in FDB?
is at port ...
( add to /
update FDB)
Therfore, the
bridge learns
that station ...
receives frame
on port ...
Bridge ...
Step
Exercise 1
Ethernet
Solution Sheets
Question 4
Question 5
Page 5
Exercise 1
Ethernet
Questions 6 .. 8
Port states: R = "Root Port", D = "Designated Port", B = "Blocked Port"
BPDU Format: (transmitting bridge ID, root bridge ID, root path cost)
Step ________
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 2:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
D
B
port 3:
port 1:
port 2:
port 2:
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
port 4:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 1:
port 3:
R
D
B
D
Step ________
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 2:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
D
B
port 3:
port 1:
port 2:
port 2:
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
C
Communication Networks II
port 4:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 1:
port 3:
R
D
B
D
Page 6
Exercise 1
Ethernet
Step ________
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 2:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
D
B
port 3:
port 1:
port 2:
port 2:
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
port 4:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 1:
port 3:
R
D
B
D
Step ________
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 2:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
D
B
port 3:
port 1:
port 2:
port 2:
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
C
Communication Networks II
port 4:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 1:
port 3:
R
D
B
D
Page 7
Exercise 1
Ethernet
Step ________
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 2:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
D
B
port 3:
port 1:
port 2:
port 2:
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
port 4:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 1:
port 3:
R
D
B
D
Step ________
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 2:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
D
B
port 3:
port 1:
port 2:
port 2:
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 3:
R
C
Communication Networks II
port 4:
R
D
B
R Believed
D Root B.ID:
B R.P.Cost:
port 1:
port 3:
R
D
B
D
Page 8