Hierarchical Networks
Summary
This topic explain how data, voice, and video are converged in a switched network. Start learning CCNA 200-301 for free right now!!
Note: Welcome: This topic is part of Module 11 of the Cisco CCNA 3 course, for a better follow up of the course you can go to the CCNA 3 section to guide you through an order.
Table of Contents
Video – Three-Layer Network Design
The Need to Scale the Network
Our digital world is changing. The ability to access the internet and the corporate network is no longer confined to physical offices, geographical locations, or time zones. In today’s globalized workplace, employees can access resources from anywhere in the world and information must be available at any time, and on any device. These requirements drive the need to build next-generation networks that are secure, reliable, and highly available.
These next-generation networks must not only support current expectations and equipment but must also be able to integrate legacy platforms. Businesses increasingly rely on their network infrastructure to provide mission-critical services. As businesses grow and evolve, they hire more employees, open branch offices, and expand into global markets. These changes directly affect the requirements of a network which must be able to scale to meet the needs of business.
Click Play in the figure to view an animation of a small network expanding into a larger network.
A network must support the exchange of various types of network traffic, including data files, email, IP telephony, and video applications for multiple business units. All enterprise networks must be able to do the following:
- Support critical applications
- Support converged network traffic
- Support diverse business needs
- Provide centralized administrative control
The LAN is the networking infrastructure that provides access to network communication services and resources for end users and devices. The end users and devices may be spread over a single floor or building. You create a campus network by interconnecting a group of LANs that are spread over a small geographic area. Campus network designs include small networks that use a single LAN switch, up to very large networks with thousands of connections.
Borderless Switched Networks
With the increasing demands of the converged network, the network must be developed with an architectural approach that embeds intelligence, simplifies operations, and is scalable to meet future demands. One of the more recent developments in network design is the Cisco Borderless Network.
The Cisco Borderless Network is a network architecture that combines innovation and design. It allows organizations to support a borderless network that can connect anyone, anywhere, anytime, on any device; securely, reliably, and seamlessly. This architecture is designed to address IT and business challenges, such as supporting the converged network and changing work patterns.
The Cisco Borderless Network provides the framework to unify wired and wireless access, including policy, access control, and performance management across many different device types. Using this architecture, the borderless network, shown in the figure, is built on a hierarchical infrastructure of hardware that is scalable and resilient.
By combining this hardware infrastructure with policy-based software solutions, the Cisco Borderless Network provides two primary sets of services: network services, and user and endpoint services under the umbrella of an integrated management solution. It enables different network elements to work together, and allows users to access resources from any place, at any time, while providing optimization, scalability, and security.
Hierarchy in the Borderless Switched Network
Creating a borderless switched network requires that sound network design principles are used to ensure maximum availability, flexibility, security, and manageability. The borderless switched network must deliver on current requirements and future required services and technologies. Borderless switched network design guidelines are built upon the following principles:
- Hierarchical – The design facilitates understanding the role of each device at every tier, simplifies deployment, operation, and management, and reduces fault domains at every tier.
- Modularity – The design allows seamless network expansion and integrated service enablement on an on-demand basis.
- Resiliency – The design satisfies user expectations for keeping the network always on.
- Flexibility – The design allows intelligent traffic load sharing by using all network resources.
These are not independent principles. Understanding how each principle fits in the context of the others is critical. Designing a borderless switched network in a hierarchical fashion creates a foundation that allows network designers to overlay security, mobility, and unified communication features. Two time-tested and proven hierarchical design frameworks for campus networks are the three-tier layer and the two-tier layer models.
The three critical layers within these tiered designs are the access, distribution, and core layers. Each layer can be seen as a well-defined, structured module with specific roles and functions in the campus network. Introducing modularity into the campus hierarchical design further ensures that the campus network remains resilient and flexible enough to provide critical network services. Modularity also helps to allow for growth and changes that occur over time.
Click each button for an example of each design.
Access, Distribution, and Core Layer Functions
The access, distribution, and core layers perform specific functions in a hierarchical network design.
Click each button for a description of the functions of each layer.
Three-Tier and Two-Tier Examples
Click each button for an example and explanation of a three-tier and two-tier design.
The figure shows a three-tier campus network design for organizations where the access, distribution, and core are each separate layers. To build a simplified, scalable, cost-effective, and efficient physical cable layout design, the recommendation is to build an extended-star physical network topology from a centralized building location to all other buildings on the same campus.
In some cases where extensive physical or network scalability does not exist, maintaining separate distribution and core layers is not required. In smaller campus locations where there are fewer users accessing the network, or in campus sites consisting of a single building, separate core and distribution layers may not be needed. In this scenario, the recommendation is the alternate two-tier campus network design, also known as the collapsed core network design, as shown in the figure.
Role of Switched Networks
The role of switched networks has evolved dramatically in the last two decades. It was not long ago that flat Layer 2 switched networks were the norm. Flat Layer 2 switched networks relied on the Ethernet and the widespread use of hub repeaters to propagate LAN traffic throughout an organization.
As shown in the figure, networks have fundamentally changed to switched LANs in a hierarchical network.
A switched LAN allows additional flexibility, traffic management, quality of service, and security. It also affords support for wireless networking and connectivity, and support for other technologies such as IP telephone and mobility services.
Glossary: If you have doubts about any special term, you can consult this computer network dictionary.
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