When you hear the word “design” what comes to your mind? To me design is the ability to start from nothing & completely build something from the ground up. Having a solid foundation & the fundamentals is key to whatever task you’re looking to complete. Whether it be a home, building or an enterprise network the same TLC must be put into each design its imperative.
Having the opportunity to attend Cisco Live this year & finally see these sessions in person was another huge highlight I had been truly looking forward to! And this session without question was one of if not THE top session I had attended at this year’s event. And who better to dive into the groundwork of what a basic campus network looks like than a phenomenal expert like Shawn Wargo, Principal TME for Cisco! A veteran in the enterprise routing & switching arena since 1999. His primary focus is on the next gen Catalyst portfolio & additional solutions such as Software- Defined Access & Cisco DNA. Let’s not waste anytime taking a closer look into design fundamentals for an enterprise campus!
Campus Networks & Multi-Layer Models!
When we think of a campus we think of a college or hospital, in which one or multiple buildings are located where tons of people can work together & collaborate on many different tasks. But in order to do that it requires 4 key things, the people themselves, multiple devices such as PC’s phones, tablets, etc. a similar geographic area & access to other domains. Another important factor in understanding & designing is the Place in Network or PIN, which is a specific & detailed role in a layer of the network & what it’s exact job is to ensure equal distribution across the network.
In any classic topology you may see in today’s network which comprises of the classic 3 tier core distribution access starting with the access layer, distribution & core.
This serves as the basis for what Network Design can be built upon! But many don’t take into account the 4th tier at the core interconnect which comes into play depending on many factors such as how many additional ports there may be, number of routes & scaling a design for a buildout. Introducing this now allows for not only full interconnectivity across the entire design. But also, this allows full expansion into the access layer to connect tons of additional devices now on that network! It doesn’t always start out pretty & in some cases maintaining over time can get out of hand!
Modular Vs Fixed & Proper Cabling!
Now that we understand some of the fundamentals & different roles in layers of the network comes the million-dollar question! Which platform fits the needs & design? Modular or fixed!? Now for a deeper dive I would highly advise checking out the session recording for a detailed overview of both. As with anything in life it comes down to two key factors! Practicality & Functionality from an operational perspective! Modular platforms you would install the chassis with line cards & as your needs may grow & change, along with the increasing need for additional bandwidth or speed, you would replace the line cards to increase that performance. With Fixed designs you would replace the entire switch with another. Network design is not a one size fits all solution! What may work for one environment may not address the needs of another.
In addition, to the chosen solution you implement many other factors are vital to safely & securing a design. Everything from cabling, distance, speed, as well as cable quality are necessary to detail & assure you have the best cabling & plan mapped out before deploying any solution!
Knowing exactly which role each layer plays in the network & having the right tools for the job is going to assure a successful deployment no matter what the environment may be. It was truly an honor to sit & hear from Shawn not only on his experience on how to approach these designs. But also giving a granular overview into what each solution at the L2/L3 levels can provide, the endless options the catalyst portfolio offers & their full capabilities! This was a session you couldn’t miss & if you did make sure to check it out along with the rest of the spectacular sessions highlighted in the Cisco Live On-Demand Library! Keep your eyes peeled for more of my highlights & until next time see y’all!
Best Regards,
Girard
TechHouse570 