Module 6: Network Design and The Access Layer: Networking Essentials (NETESS)

Module 6: Network
Design and the Access

Layer
Networking Essentials (NETESS)
Module Objectives
Module Title: Network Design and Access Layer

Module Objective: Explain how communication occurs on Ethernet networks.
Topic Title Topic Objective
Encapsulation and the Ethernet Frame Explain the process of encapsulation and Ethernet framing.
Hierarchical Network Design Explain the function at each layer of the 3-layer network design model.
The Access Layer Explain how to improve network communication at the access layer.
Broadcast Containment Explain why it is important to contain broadcasts within a network.
© 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential
6.1 Encapsulation and the
Ethernet Frame
© 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 3
Encapsulation and the Ethernet Frame
Video - The Fields of the Ethernet Frame
Encapsulation
Each message is encapsulated into a specific

format, called a frame, that includes the source and
destination addresses.
• An example is how a letter is put (encapsulated)

inside an envelope.
For communication on an IP network, the format is

very specific and includes a source and destination
address.
Ethernet Frame
On an Ethernet network, messages are put into a frame or Layer 2 protocol data units (PDUs).
6.2 Hierarchical Network
Design
Hierarchical Network Design
Video - Physical and Logical Addresses
Physical and Logical Addresses
Both a physical address and logical IP address are needed for a device to communicate on an Ethernet
network.
• A physical address (MAC address) does not change.
• Burned into the NIC
• A logical address (IP address) can change and is commonly assigned by a network administrator.
• Two parts: network and host
Logical
addressing
Video - View Network Information on My Device
Lab - View Wireless and Wired NIC Information
In this lab, you will complete the following objectives:
• Identify and work with PC NICs.

• Identify and use the System Tray network icons.
Hierarchical Analogy
Network addressing is done in a hierarchical fashion.
North
America
Canada
Nova Scotia
Halifax
Video - Benefits of a Hierarchical Network Design
Benefits of a Hierarchical Design
A hierarchical, layered design provides:
• Increased efficiency
• Optimization of function
• Increased speed
• A way in which to scale the network without impacting
the performance of existing ones
Three layers:
• Access Layer - This layer provides connections to hosts
in a local Ethernet network.
• Distribution Layer - This layer interconnects the
smaller local networks.
• Core Layer - This layer provides a high-speed
connection between distribution layer devices.
Access, Distribution, and Core
Cisco Catalyst 9600
Cisco C9300 Series

Distribution Layer Switches
Cisco ME 2600X Access Layer Switch
6.3 The Access Layer
The Access Layer
Access Layer Devices
• Access layer devices provide access

so hosts can join a wired (or
wireless) network.
• In a wired network, each host

connects to an access layer network
device such as a switch.
The Access Layer
Ethernet Hubs
• Only one message can be sent through an

Ethernet hub at a time.
• Hubs take signals from one port and sends

the message out all of the other ports.
The Access Layer
Video - Ethernet Switches
The Access Layer
Ethernet Switches
An Ethernet switch is an access layer

device.
• A switch builds a MAC address table.
• A switch uses the MAC address table
to send the message to a specific
port.
The Access Layer
Video - MAC Address Tables
The Access Layer
The MAC Address Table
• A switch builds a MAC address table
by examining a frame as it comes into
the switch.
• A switch adds the source MAC
address of the device connected to
the port through which the frame came
in on.
• A switch forwards a frame out to a
specific port when the destination
MAC address is in the MAC address
table.
• A switch forwards a frame out to all
hosts (except the sending host) when
the destination MAC address is not in
the MAC address table.
6.4 Broadcast Containment
Broadcast Containment
Video - The Ethernet Broadcast
Ethernet Broadcasts in the Local Network
• A broadcast message is used to contact every

other device on the local network.
• An Ethernet broadcast is all 1s in the

destination MAC address – FFFF.FFFF.FFFF.
Broadcast Domains
• A broadcast domain is the area

through which a broadcast message
can travel.
• Each local Ethernet network is a

broadcast domain.
• Routers are used to divide the

network into multiple broadcast
domains.
Access Layer Communication
• In order to send information from a device that is on an Ethernet network, the device must supply
its own source MAC address, a destination MAC address, its own source IP address, as well as a
destination IP address.
• The address resolution protocol (ARP) is used to discover the MAC address of a device on the
same local network.
Video - Address Resolution Protocol
ARP
ARP uses 3 steps to discover and store the MAC address of a host on the local network when only
the IPv4 address of that host is known.
1. The sending host creates and sends a frame addressed to a broadcast MAC address. Contained
in the frame is a message with the IPv4 address of the intended destination host.
2. Each host on the network receives the broadcast frame and compares the IPv4 address
contained in the message with its own IPv4 address. The host with the matching IPv4 address
sends its own MAC address back to the original sending host.
3. The sending host receives the message and stores the MAC address and the IPv4 address in an
ARP table.
Lab - View Captured Traffic in Wireshark
In this lab, you will complete the following objectives:
• Download and install Wireshark.

• Capture and analyze ARP data in Wireshark.
• View the ARP cache entries on the PC.
6.5 Network Design and
Access Layer Summary
Network Design and Access Layer Summary
What Did I Learn in this Module?
• Encapsulation is the process of placing one message format inside another message format.
• A part of the encapsulation process on an Ethernet network is to create a frame that includes the
source and destination MAC address.
• Networks have a hierarchical design of IP addressing that includes a network portion and a host
portion.
• Networks can be designed using a hierarchical design model with three layers: access,
distribution and core.
• An access layer device provides connections so hosts can get onto a network.
• The distribution layer connects networks.
• The core layer provides a high speed connection between distribution layer devices.
• Hubs takes signals from one port and sends the same message out all other ports. All connected
devices share the bandwidth.
• Switches build a MAC address table by examining and saving the source MAC address from a
received frame.
Network Design and Access Layer Summary
What Did I Learn in this Module? (Cont.)
• Switches build transmit messages based on the destination MAC address and comparing it to the
addresses found in the MAC address table.
• If a destination MAC address is not in the MAC address table, flooding is used to forward the
message out all ports except the port that has the sending host attached.
• ARP is used to send a broadcast message of all ones (FFFF.FFFF.FFFF) to discover the MAC
address of a particular host.
• Routers divide the network into multiple broadcast domains.
• A broadcast can only be received on a local network.
Network Design and Access Summary
New Terms and Commands
• encapsulation • access layer

• frame • distribution layer
• Ethernet frame • core layer
• physical address • Ethernet hub
• MAC address • Ethernet switch
• logical address • MAC address table
• IP address • broadcast
• hierarchical design • broadcast domain
• hierarchical design model • ARP
• broadcast containment
© 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential

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Module 6: Network

Design and the Access

Module Title: Network Design and Access Layer

Broadcast Containment Explain why it is important to contain broadcasts within a network.

Each message is encapsulated into a specific

• An example is how a letter is put (encapsulated)

For communication on an IP network, the format is

In this lab, you will complete the following objectives:

• Identify and work with PC NICs.

Network addressing is done in a hierarchical fashion.

Cisco Catalyst 9600

Cisco C9300 Series

Cisco ME 2600X Access Layer Switch

• Access layer devices provide access

• In a wired network, each host

• Only one message can be sent through an

• Hubs take signals from one port and sends

An Ethernet switch is an access layer

• A broadcast message is used to contact every

• An Ethernet broadcast is all 1s in the

• A broadcast domain is the area

• Each local Ethernet network is a

• Routers are used to divide the

• Download and install Wireshark.

• encapsulation • access layer

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