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17
A: Sure!
• Bridges/switches run this protocol automatically.
• Each has a unique identifier from the factory.
• They all send to a prescribed multicast MAC address.
• They somehow elect a leader.
• They agree to turn off some ports so that there are not
loops.
• The spanning tree is computed using Prim’s or Kruskal’s
algorithm.
• You don’t have to know any of this…
Switch vs. Managed Switch
• A regular switch just does its work – no way to
manually intervene or configure anything, or
get stats from it, etc.
• A managed switch runs a TCP/IP stack, so that
you can log in to it and configure it (assign
VLANs, e.g.), get stats, etc.
Broadcast Domain vs. Collision Domain
Q: What is a broadcast domain? (p 301)
A: A set of computers such that a layer-2
broadcast message from any machine in that set
reaches all the others. (This is perhaps another
definition of a LAN.)
Q: What is a collision domain?
A: A set of computers where if any two
computers try to use the network at the same
time, there is a collision.
(Repeat) Logical vs. Physical Topology
Q: Can you explain Physical vs. Logical Topology
more?
A: Sure! As I’ve said, Ethernet assumes all
machines are on a bus (coax cable was used
first). But, most Ethernet is on twisted pair or
fiber now – which does not support the bus
paradigm. So, we need devices to make these
point-to-point subnetworks act like a single bus
network. Hubs and switches do that.
VLANs and Physical vs. Logical
• A Virtual LAN really separates the physical
topology from the logical topology.
• Can put machines on one physical LAN (wire)
into multiple VLANs.
• Can put machines on multiple physical LANs
into one VLAN.
– These physical LANs could even be very far apart
geographically.
Configuring a VLAN
• Assigning a machine’s interface to a VLAN
depends on physical topology.
– Bus: have to configure the machine itself.
– Switched (star):
• Port-based VLANs: assign ports to VLANs and forward
only to those in the same VLAN.
• Or, MAC-based VLANs: assign MACs to VLANs.
(Compare adv/disadv. of MAC-based vs. Port-based.)
• And/or can alter the Ethernet frame, inserting the
802.1q header with the assigned VLAN before
forwarding it. (trunking).
N/2 transfers max?
Q: Why can only up to N/2 transfers occur at the
same time with a switch that has N ports
connected to N computers?
A: I would have preferred that the textbook said
“up to N/2 conversations can occur at the same
time.”, because for every packet it, it must go
out, so 2 ports are used.
LAN Segment
Q: The book says that a bridge is a mechanism
that connects two LAN segments. What is meant
by "LAN segments"? Are they together part of
one LAN or are they both different LANS?
A: LAN segment is collision domain. That is, it is
all machines that when they send a packet, no
other packet can send at the same time, or
there will be a collision. E.g., a bus or hub with
many computers connected.
Old Slides
What is a hub?
Q: Can you draw a picture of the connectivity
within and outside of a hub?