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Slide 1

• Describes the Cisco hierarchical network design principles
• Design the network around traffic flows rather than a particular type of traffic. Ideally, the network should be arranged so that all end users are located at a consistent distance from the resources they need to use. If one user at one corner of the network passes through two switches to reach an email server, any other user at any other location in the network should also require two switch hops for email service.
• Cisco has refined a hierarchical approach to network design that enables network designers to organize the network into distinct layers of devices. The resulting network is efficient, intelligent, scalable, and easily managed.

Slide 2

• Describes the access layer
• The access layer exists where the end users are connected to the network. Access switch-es usually provide Layer 2 (VLAN) connectivity between users. Devices in this layer, sometimes called building access switches, should have the following capabilities:
• ■ Low cost per switch port
• ■ High port density
• ■ Scalable uplinks to higher layers
• ■ High availability
• ■ Ability to converge network services (that is, data, voice, video)
• ■ Security features and quality of service (QoS)