Springfield Site Device and STP Configurations

Table of Contents

1. Site Details and Challenges
2. Site Solutions and Technologies
3. Sample Configuration
4. Supporting Tables/Diagrams
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography

1. Site Details and Challenges

I have been recently hired as a network administrator for the xAcme Technology Trade School. The local xAcme system admins of the Springfield site have asked me, there network admin to help configure their Cisco network devices. Springfield network topology is below.

Figure 1: Springfield Network  Topology

List of Network Devices at Springfield

–          Cisco 2811 router

–          (2960) Switch 1 with 24 ports

–          (2960) Switch 2 with 24 ports

–          (2960) Switch 3 with 24 ports

–          (2960) Switch 4 with 24 ports

–          Instructional VLAN, 211 devices attached

–          Administrative VLAN, 55 devices attached

–          Server VLAN, 38 devices attached

–          Faculty VLAN, 20 devices attached

Springfield has been assigned a network of 10.30.0.0 /16 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. It has four vlans with a total of 324 devices attached. Springfield has incorrect device configurations, wrong STP implementation and no password security or any security measures to prevent bogus BPDU attacks.

2. Site Solutions and Technologies

In order to the solve Springfield’s site network problems, I will start by implementing device hostnames to match the xACME educational topology labels. A MOTD banner and login banner must be configured on one of the switches. Security is a must have when configuring any network, so I will help the system admins by implementing device passwords on both console port (out-of-band communications) and VTY (Telnet/in-band communications) and it will be encrypted.

The local xAcme system admins are also having trouble placing switch 1 as the root. I will explain the advantages and purpose of the STP and help them with their switch problem. To better understand the importance of each step, I have defined below the main configs I will make changes to.

Hostnames– Names to assign network devices so we don’t have to use the IP address. (3)

Banners – Banners can be used to inform people how to use the device properly, it can be used to warn potential intruders that they are not allowed to access the network, or also be used a decorative piece. [2]. For Springfield, we will be using the banner to display the message of the day (MOTD). Below is an example decorative banner for the company I work for.