Hands on Ethernet Networks

Objectives Prerequisites Who should attend Course Outline Hands-on Sessions

NB-1.0

What you will learn...

If you need all your 10/100Mbps Ethernet (CSMA/CD) questions answered then this is the course for you. With a high degree of hands-on you will go through different design and installation situations and develop experience first hand as you build live Ethernet networks from the ground up. You will be using switches, bridges, repeaters, network analysers and cable testers plus a lot more - all state-of-the-art and all at your disposal to use and experience. This is the perfect opportunity to try things out that you have always wondered how they would work in your work environment.

Prerequisites

This is an advanced Ethernet course for people who know the basic operation of an Ethernet LAN, but would like to discover the technical and design details. A basic knowledge of DOS commands and PC usage is necessary. A+ Certification would be an advantage. Should you not have these prerequisites then we suggest you attend our Hands-on LAN Design course first.

Who should attend

You should attend this course if you are involved in the design, installation or support of an Ethernet network. You could be in any of the following positions: EDP Manager, Systems Administrator, Network Manager, Programmer/Analyst, Technical Support, LAN Administrator, Systems Engineer, MIS Manager, LAN Analyst.

Course Outline

Introduction

  • Local Area Networks (LANs) technology from the start
  • Key Ethernet terms and definitions
  • Ethernet architecture
  • Learn Ethernet standards
    • IEEE and ISO
    • Media Access Control (802.3) and Logical Link Control (802.2)
  • Ethernet or CSMA/CD

Operation of Ethernet

  • Ethernet hardware components – how they work and what they do
  • Algorithm for sending and receiving data
  • Collision detection
  • Cabling options
    • thick and thin coax, unshielded twisted pair, fibre
    • high speed network considerations
    • which cabling option is best for me
    • 10Base5, 10Base2, 10BaseT, 10BaseF, 100BaseTx/T4
    • repeater links - 10BaseFL, 10BaseFB

Ethernet MAC layer specifications

  • Ethernet frame format detail - Ethernet v2.0, IEEE 802.3
  • Backoff algorithm
  • Addressing at the MAC layer
  • Network addressing issues
  • Timing, recovery and delay
  • Collision detect timing
  • Maximum and minimum frame length considerations
  • Jabber and SQE operation
  • Higher layer protocols - TCP/IP, IPX/SPX

High speed Ethernet

  • Fast Ethernet 100Mbps standards
    • implementation and design issues
    • how to upgrade your existing 10Mbps network
    • 100BaseTx and 100BaseT4 operation
    • backbone considerations
    • component selection
  • Bi-directional 20Mbps Ethernet

Ethernet switching

  • What is Ethernet switching
  • How can I deploy a switch in my network
  • Performance and design issues
  • Addressing issues
  • Backbone considerations
  • VLAN implementation

Design rules and considerations

  • How to start and what to consider
  • Understanding topology selection performance issues
  • Which components do I use
  • Ethernet design rules
  • Importance of cable and speed selection
  • Interoperability components
  • Determining component performance
  • Surveying the site
  • Can the rules be broken
  • Designing for network expansion and upgrade

Complex Ethernet configurations

  • Connectivity and internetworking issues and options
  • Copper and fibre repeater links
  • Bridge and switch deployment
  • Virtual LANs (VLANs)

Ethernet network management

  • Where to start with Ethernet management
  • Health checking your network
  • In-band and out-band network management options
  • SNMP options
  • Vital signs to look for - collisions, runts, out-of-window collisions, jabbers, corrupted and mis-aligned frames
  • Cable test equipment

Ethernet troubleshooting

  • How to detect and resolve problems
  • Network diagnostic options
  • Typical cabling, transceiver, NIC, hub bridge, router problems
  • Troubleshooting tools

Ethernet vendor comparison

  • Major vendors of Ethernet components
  • Defining key selection criteria
  • Product comparisons
  • Network management tools comparison


Hands-on Sessions


Building and installing a 10/100Mbps Ethernet network

You will design and build an Ethernet LAN from the ground up, utilising thick and thin coax, unshielded twisted pair and fibre. Hands-on experience will be gained in installing Ethernet components including Network Interface Cards (NICs), transceivers, repeaters, intelligent hubs and testing of the cabling plant. Both 10Mbps and 100Mbps networks will be built.

Network management and performance

You will use test equipment such as a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR), protocol analysers and cable scanners to test and evaluate the performance of the network.

Ethernet frames

Using a protocol analyser, you will detect and identify Ethernet MAC frames. The frame formats will be identified including the various protocols and protocol encapsulation techniques.

Ethernet design

Having gained experience in building a LAN and then considering performance issues, you will be given the task of designing an Ethernet LAN. This will require you to take into consideration costs, project planning, maintenance and administration of an Ethernet network.

Internetworking

In this session you will build a complex internetwork consisting of local and remote bridges and 10/100Mbps switches.

Troubleshooting

In this session you will be using the Ethernet diagnostic tools available to hone your Ethernet troubleshooting skills.