Inter-VLAN Routing Layer 3 Switches
Inter-VLAN Routing Layer 3 Switches

Inter-VLAN Routing using Layer 3 Switches

Inter-VLAN Routing using Layer 3 Switches
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Summary

This topic configure inter-VLAN routing using Layer 3 switching. Start learning CCNA 200-301 for free right now!!

Note: Welcome: This topic is part of Module 4 of the Cisco CCNA 2 course, for a better follow up of the course you can go to the CCNA 2 section to guide you through an order.

Layer 3 Switch Inter-VLAN Routing

Modern, enterprise networks rarely use router-on-a-stick because it does not scale easily to meet requirements. In these very large networks, network administrators use Layer 3 switches to configure inter-VLAN routing.

Inter-VLAN routing using the router-on-a-stick method is simple to implement for a small to medium-sized organization. However, a large enterprise requires a faster, much more scalable method to provide inter-VLAN routing.

Enterprise campus LANs use Layer 3 switches to provide inter-VLAN routing. Layer 3 switches use hardware-based switching to achieve higher-packet processing rates than routers. Layer 3 switches are also commonly implemented in enterprise distribution layer wiring closets.

Capabilities of a Layer 3 switch include the ability to do the following:

  • Route from one VLAN to another using multiple switched virtual interfaces (SVIs).
  • Convert a Layer 2 switchport to a Layer 3 interface (i.e., a routed port). A routed port is similar to a physical interface on a Cisco IOS router.

To provide inter-VLAN routing, Layer 3 switches use SVIs. SVIs are configured using the same interface vlan vlan-id command used to create the management SVI on a Layer 2 switch. A Layer 3 SVI must be created for each of the routable VLANs.

Layer 3 Switch Scenario

In the figure, the Layer 3 switch, D1, is connected to two hosts on different VLANs. PC1 is in VLAN 10 and PC2 is in VLAN 20, as shown. The Layer 3 switch will provide inter-VLAN routing services to the two hosts.

Layer 3 Switch Scenario
Layer 3 Switch Scenario

The table shows the IP addresses for each VLAN.

D1 VLAN IP Addresses

VLAN Interface IP Address
10 192.168.10.1/24
20 192.168.20.1/24

Layer 3 Switch Configuration

Complete the following steps to configure S1 with VLANs and trunking:

  • Step 1. Create the VLANs.
  • Step 2. Create the SVI VLAN interfaces.
  • Step 3. Configure access ports.
  • Step 4. Enable IP routing.

Click each button for details of the configuration step.

First, create the two VLANs as shown in the output.

D1(config)# vlan 10
D1(config-vlan)# name LAN10
D1(config-vlan)# vlan 20
D1(config-vlan)# name LAN20
D1(config-vlan)# exit
D1(config)#

Configure the SVI for VLANs 10 and 20. The IP addresses that are configured will serve as the default gateways to the hosts in the respective VLANs. Notice the informational messages showing the line protocol on both SVIs changed to up.

D1(config)# interface vlan 10
D1(config-if)# description Default Gateway SVI for 192.168.10.0/24
D1(config-if)# ip add 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
D1(config-if)# no shut
D1(config-if)# exit
D1(config)#
D1(config)# int vlan 20
D1(config-if)# description Default Gateway SVI for 192.168.20.0/24
D1(config-if)# ip add 192.168.20.1 255.255.255.0
D1(config-if)# no shut
D1(config-if)# exit
D1(config)#
*Sep 17 13:52:16.053: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan10, changed state to up
*Sep 17 13:52:16.160: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan20, changed state to up

Next, configure the access ports connecting to the hosts and assign them to their respective VLANs.

D1(config)# interface GigabitEthernet1/0/6
D1(config-if)# description Access port to PC1
D1(config-if)# switchport mode access
D1(config-if)# switchport access vlan 10
D1(config-if)# exit
D1(config)#
D1(config)# interface GigabitEthernet1/0/18
D1(config-if)# description Access port to PC2
D1(config-if)# switchport mode access
D1(config-if)# switchport access vlan 20
D1(config-if)# exit

Finally, enable IPv4 routing with the ip routing global configuration command to allow traffic to be exchanged between VLANs 10 and 20. This command must be configured to enable inter-VAN routing on a Layer 3 switch for IPv4.

D1(config)# ip routing
D1(config)#

Layer 3 Switch Inter-VLAN Routing Verification

Inter-VLAN routing using a Layer 3 switch is simpler to configure than the router-on-a-stick method. After the configuration is complete, the configuration can be verified by testing connectivity between the hosts.

From a host, verify connectivity to a host in another VLAN using the ping command. It is a good idea to first verify the current host IP configuration using the ipconfig Windows host command. The output confirms the IPv4 address and default gateway of PC1.

C:\Users\PC1> ipconfig
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Ethernet0:
  Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
  Link-local IPv6 Address          : fe80::5c43:ee7c:2959:da68%6
  IPv4 Address                     : 192.168.10.10
  Subnet Mask                      : 255.255.255.0
  Default Gateway                  : 192.168.10.1
C:\Users\PC1>

Next, verify connectivity with PC2 using the ping Windows host command, as shown in the output. The ping output successfully confirms inter-VLAN routing is operating.

C:\Users\PC1> ping 192.168.20.10
Pinging 192.168.20.10 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.20.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.20.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.20.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.20.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Ping statistics for 192.168.20.10:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
C:\Users\PC1>

Routing on a Layer 3 Switch

If VLANs are to be reachable by other Layer 3 devices, then they must be advertised using static or dynamic routing. To enable routing on a Layer 3 switch, a routed port must be configured.

A routed port is created on a Layer 3 switch by disabling the switchport feature on a Layer 2 port that is connected to another Layer 3 device. Specifically, configuring the no switchport interface configuration command on a Layer 2 port converts it into a Layer 3 interface. Then the interface can be configured with an IPv4 configuration to connect to a router or another Layer 3 switch.

Routing Scenario on a Layer 3 Switch

In the figure, the previously configured D1 Layer 3 switch is now connected to R1. R1 and D1 are both in an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) routing protocol domain. Assume inter-VLAN has been successfully implemented on D1. The G0/0/1 interface of R1 has also been configured and enabled. Additionally, R1 is using OSPF to advertise its two networks, 10.10.10.0/24 and 10.20.20.0/24.

Note: OSPF routing configuration is covered in another course. In this module, OSPF configuration commands will be given to you in all activities and assessments. It is not required that you understand the configuration in order to enable OSPF routing on the Layer 3 switch.

Routing Scenario on a Layer 3 Switch
Routing Scenario on a Layer 3 Switch

Routing Configuration on a Layer 3 Switch

Complete the following steps to configure D1 to route with R1:

  • Step 1. Configure the routed port.
  • Step 2. Enable routing.
  • Step 3. Configure routing.
  • Step 4. Verify routing.
  • Step 5. Verify connectivity.

Click each button for details of the configuration step.

Configure G1/0/1 to be a routed port, assign it an IPv4 address, and enable it.

D1(config)# interface GigabitEthernet1/0/1
D1(config-if)# description routed Port Link to R1
D1(config-if)# no switchport
D1(config-if)# ip address 10.10.10.2 255.255.255.0
D1(config-if)# no shut
D1(config-if)# exit
D1(config)#

Ensure IPv4 routing is enabled with the ip routing global configuration command.

D1(config)# ip routing
D1(config)#

Configure the OSPF routing protocol to advertise the VLAN 10 and VLAN 20 networks, along with the network that is connected to R1. Notice the message informing you that an adjacency has been established with R1.

D1(config)# router ospf 10
D1(config-router)# network 192.168.10.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
D1(config-router)# network 192.168.20.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
D1(config-router)# network 10.10.10.0 0.0.0.3 area 0
D1(config-router)# ^Z
D1#
*Sep 17 13:52:51.163: %OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 10, Nbr 10.20.20.1 on GigabitEthernet1/0/1 from LOADING to FULL, Loading Done
D1#

Verify the routing table on D1. Notice that D1 now has a route to the 10.20.20.0/24 network.

D1# show ip route | begin Gateway
Gateway of last resort is not set
      10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 3 subnets, 3 masks
C        10.10.10.0/30 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet1/0/1
L        10.10.10.2/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet1/0/1
O        10.20.20.0/24 [110/2] via 10.10.10.1, 00:00:06, GigabitEthernet1/0/1
      192.168.10.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.10.0/24 is directly connected, Vlan10
L        192.168.10.1/32 is directly connected, Vlan10
      192.168.20.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.20.0/24 is directly connected, Vlan20
L        192.168.20.1/32 is directly connected, Vlan20
D1#

At this time, PC1 and PC2 are able to ping the server connected to R1.

C:\Users\PC1> ping 10.20.20.254
Pinging 10.20.20.254 with 32 bytes of data: 
Request timed out.
Reply from 10.20.20.254: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 10.20.20.254: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 10.20.20.254: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Ping statistics for 10.20.20.254:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 3, Lost = 1 (25% loss).
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: 
    Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 2ms, Average = 1ms 
C:\Users\PC1>
!==================================================
C:\Users\PC2> ping 10.20.20.254
Pinging 10.20.20.254 with 32 bytes of data: 
Reply from 10.20.20.254: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 10.20.20.254: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 10.20.20.254: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 10.20.20.254: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Ping statistics for 10.20.20.254:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss).
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: 
    Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 2ms, Average = 1ms
C:\Users\PC2>

Packet Tracer – Configure Layer 3 Switching and Inter-VLAN Routing

In this activity, you will configure Layer 3 switching and Inter-VLAN routing on a Cisco 3560 switch.

Glossary: If you have doubts about any special term, you can consult this computer network dictionary.

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