Building Routing and Switching Playground

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Building The Lab Topology

So, given the physical topology here's the first topology that will be my playground:

Pic1-1: Topology (Vlans)

Now, let's configure layer 2 and IP addressing and start experimenting.
The physical layer (layer 1 from previous post) will be the guide on how to accomplish the above Layer3 connectivity (point-to-point for now).


Initially, I wanted port-channels between the switches but guess what? Ain't working properly (buggy software). Have to settle on this switch-to-switch connectivity for now:

Pic. 1-2: Switch-to-switch Connectivity

Finally, IP addressing and I am good to go.

Pic. 1.3: IP Addressing

Also, below are the Loopback0 IP addresses of all the nodes:

Loopback0 Interface IP Addresses:

R1      10.1.1.1/32
R2      10.2.2.2/32
R3      10.3.3.3/32
R4      10.4.4.4/32
R5      10.5.5.5/32
R6      10.6.6.6/32
R7      10.7.7.7/32
R8      10.8.8.8/32
R9      10.9.9.9/32
R10     10.10.10.10/32
SW1     10.11.11.11/32
SW2     10.12.12.12/32
SW3     10.13.13.13/32
SW4     10.14.14.14/32

Topology 1 Initial Configuration Download

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Lab 2-1: Router startup and Initial Configuration

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Lab pre-requisites:

• Completed Lab 1-1.
• Completed Lab 1-2.

Lab 2-1 Packet Tracer Topology Download.

Topology Diagram

There are four tasks in this lab. I am curious how Packet Tracer is going to handle them.

Task 1: Router hardware and software inspection.

Task 2: Create the initial Router configuration.

Task 3: Changing default CLI parameters.

Task 4: Neighbor discovery using CDP.

Task 1: Router hardware and software inspection.

In order to find out more about the router, let's start with 'show version' command:

I fill focus on few lines that seem important here:

It is a Cisco Router Platform 2800 series.

IOS Major version: 12

IOS Minor version: 4

IOS Release: 15

T1 train: in testing

The above picture shows that router is running an 'Advanced IP Services' IOS image (supporting things such as VPNs etc.) The file in flash is compressed (z), will run directly from RAM memory (m) and it is an executable file (.bin).

Router model: 2811

RAM: 64 MB

(60416K for processes and 5220K for IO; you must add both values to learn the amount memory)

Interfaces: 2 FastEthernet Interfaces (100Mbs each) and 1 serial (128Kbps)

NVRAM: 239 KB

FLASH: 62 MB

Task 2: Create the initial Router configuration.

First, let's bring factory defaults

After reboot ignore the 'System Configuration Dialog'.

Configure a Hostname as per topology diagram.

Router>enable

Router#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

Router(config)#hostname Branch

Branch(config)#

Disable DNS name lookup.

Branch(config)#no ip domain lookup

Branch(config)#

Configure and enable FastEthernet0/0 and FastEthernet0/1 interfaces as shown in the topology diagram. Perform this task on both Branch and HQ routers. On HQ the address 172.16.1.100 should be assigned to FastEthernet0/0 interface.

HQ Configuration:

Router>enable

Router#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

Router(config)#hostname HQ

HQ(config)#no ip domain lookup

HQ(config)#interface fas0/0

HQ(config-if)#ip address 172.16.1.100 255.255.255.0

HQ(config-if)#no shutdown

HQ(config-if)#

HQ(config-if)#interface fas0/1

HQ(config-if)#ip address 209.165.201.2 255.255.255.224

HQ(config-if)#no shutdown

HQ(config-if)#

HQ(config-if)#end

HQ#wr

HQ#

Branch Configuration:

Branch#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

Branch(config)#interface fas0/0

Branch(config-if)#ip address 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.0

Branch(config-if)#no shutdown

Branch(config-if)#

Branch(config-if)#do ping 209.165.201.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 209.165.201.2, timeout is 2 seconds:

.!!!!

Success rate is 80 percent (4/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 0/0/0 ms

Branch(config-if)#end

Branch#wr

Task 3: Changing default CLI parameters.

Configure Console 0 interface so that system messages are sent above the cursor (so that they don't interrupt with your typing).

Branch(config)#line con 0

Branch(config-line)#logging synchronous

Branch(config-line)#

In the console 0 configuration context change the idle timer to 1 hour (it will not work in Packet Tracer properly but here we need to practice the command).

Branch(config-line)#exec-timeout 60

Branch(config-line)#

Change the history buffer size from default value (10 or 20 depending on the device), to 50 recently remembered commands. Make sure that this will be still working after terminating session (need to do it on the console 0)

Branch(config-line)#history size 50

Branch(config-line)#

The whole configuration of the console:

!

line con 0

 history size 50

 exec-timeout 60 0

 logging synchronous

!

Task 4: Neighbor discovery using CDP.

We can use Branch router and CDP protocol to obtain more information about its two neighbors. Compare the discovery below with the topology diagram at the top of the page.

If you want to obtain a more detailed output about a neighbor using CDP, you can either use the following command:

show cdp neighbor detail

It will display detailed information about all neighbors discovered (one by one). Alternatively, you can ask CDP for detailed information about specific neighbor (for instance SW1). 

---

NOTICE!

Pay attention here as IOS is CASE SENSITIVE. When you provide the name of the neighbor, you must type it exactly as presented in show cdp neighbor output.

---

SW1 detailed output would be provided with this command:

show cdp entry SW1

Here's my output: 

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CDP: Building Topology Diagram

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Cisco Discovery Protocol Lab

Lab pre-requisites:

• Previous lab has been configured
• CDP Theory

Before we use official Cisco Labs let's practice a little more. You need to learn our topology and there is no better way of doing this but practically.

In our previous lab all switches and routers were assigned unique names. That is always a good strategy. Now we're going to build on that configuration and create a proper topology diagram utilizing Cisco proprietary layer 2 protocol called CDP.

1. Using SW1 ensure that CDP is enabled on the device.
2. Check if all interfaces are running CDP protocol.
3. Enable all interfaces on all routers (switches have all interfaces enabled by default).
4. Using CDP protocol draw a topology diagram to learn which interfaces are connected between devices.
5. On all switches and routers shutdown the interfaces that are not currently used.

SOLUTION

Let's have some fun solving the lab.

1. Using SW1 ensure that CDP is enabled on the device.
   
   If you use 'show running-config' command you're not going to see anything related to CDP protocol as defaults never show in the running configuration. The solution is to use the following command:
   
   SW1#show cdp
   
   and here's the output:
   
   
2. Check if all interfaces are running CDP protocol.
   
   
   
   Here, the bitmap shows only two interfaces. You should see that all interfaces (both switch and router) run CDP by default.
3. Enable all interfaces on all routers (switches have all interfaces enabled by default).
   Click Branch router icon, and click CLI tab at the top. First, we must find out what interfaces are available. A quick way of verifying that is to use show ip int brief:
   
   
   
   
   

   ---

   Notice!
   Packet Tracer has a clock rate enabled on serial interface enabled by default.

   ---

   
   
   Branch#show controllers serial0/0/0
   Interface Serial0/0/0
   Hardware is PowerQUICC MPC860
   DTE V.35 TX and RX clocks detected
   
   Now, you're ready to complete the task. Start with router Branch:
   
   Branch#conf t
   Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
   Branch(config)#int fa0/0
   Branch(config-if)#no shut
   
   Branch(config)#int fa0/1
   Branch(config-if)#no shut
   Branch(config)#int serial0/0/0
   Branch(config-if)#no shut
   
   
   Now, the same procedure on router HQ:
   HQ>enable
   HQ#show ip int brief
   HQ(config)#int fa0/0
   HQ(config-if)#no shut
   
   HQ(config-if)#int f0/1
   HQ(config-if)#no shut
   
   HQ(config-if)#int s0/0/0
   HQ(config-if)#no shut
   
   
4. Using CDP protocol draw a topology diagram to learn which interfaces are connected between devices.
   
   I am going to start my discovery on SW1, but feel free to start using any device in our topology. Here's what I find (you can click on the picture to enlarge it).
   
   

   ---

   NOTICE!
   Packet tracer does NOT support 'show interface status' command which allows me to find out which interfaces are enabled/disabled. So let me help you with an initial discovery a bit. PC1 and PC2 are already mapped in the topology diagram.

   ---

   
   Let's add port identifiers in our topology.
   
   
   
   SW1 port Fa0/3 connects SW2 port Fa0/3.
   SW1 port Fa0/4 connects SW2 port Fa0/4.
   SW1 port Fa0/13 connects Branch port Fa0/0.
   
   This allows me to add the following port identifiers (connections) to my topology diagram:
   
   
   
   
   Now, jumping over to SW2 to verify its neighbors.
   
   
   
   
   There's nothing new here. Finally, I will see what neighbors Branch router recognizes.
   
   
   
   This my final topology discovered:
   
   
   
5. On all switches shutdown the interfaces that are not currently used.
   
   SW1(config)#int range fa0/1,fa0/5-12,fa0/14-24
   SW1(config-if-range)#shutdown
   SW1(config)#int range fa0/1,fa0/5-12,fa0/14-24
   SW1(config-if-range)#shutdown

Now, we are ready to start the labs as per official Cisco ICDN1 lab book. See you in the first Cisco lab (go to next lab).

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Installing Packet Tracer

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In order to reinforce study of Cisco technologies it is imperative to put theory into practice. After you have completed ICND1/ICND2 course the problem is how to further practice those labs you have in the book?

Here's good news! You don't have to buy a real gear if you are CCNA candidate trying to do course labs again. Cisco created a router/switch simulator called Packet Tracer, which is free application you can install on any MS Windows computer. This simulator is not a “real deal” but it is good enough to practice for CCNA exam.

Let's start our section with labs that Cisco uses in their official CCNA curriculum. First click the link below that is going to take you to a web server hosting Packet Tracer Installation package. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and click 'Download' button. Save the file on your hard disk and install Packet tracer using default options.

http://getintopc.com/softwares/network/cisco-packet-tracer-6-2-free-download/

Once installation is complete, click here to download the lab topology. 

Save the topology on your disk and double-click it. Packet tracer will launch and you should see this on your screen.

ICDN1/ICND2 Topology Diagram.

PC1 and PC2 have already been configured with IP addresses and default gateways. 

PC1 Settings:
IP Address: 10.1.1.100/24

Default Gateway: 10.1.1.1

PC2 Settings:
IP Address: 10.1.1.101/24
Default Gateway: 10.1.1.1

You can verify that by clicking PC1/PC2 icons and clicking:

Global->Settings
Global->Interface->FastEthernet0

We're off to a good start. It's time to do the first lab which you can find in:
"Cisco Exercises" section.

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