Lab 11.5.4 – Network Testing (Answers)

Lab 11.5.4 – Network Testing (Answers)

Topology Diagram

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this lab, you will be able to:

• Design the logical lab topology.
• Configure the physical lab topology.
• Configure the logical LAN topology.
• Verify LAN connectivity.

Background

Table 1. Equipment and Hardware for this Lab

Gather the necessary equipment and cables. To configure the lab, make sure the equipment listed in Table 1 is available.

Note to instructor: If you do not have a router that has two FastEthernet interfaces, consider configuring a loopback interface as an alternative to the FastEthernet 0/1. Another alternative would be to use two routers connected through a serial connection and use the FastEthernet interfaces from each router.

The Appendix contains Cisco IOS configuration syntax for this lab.

Scenario

In this lab, you will create a small network that requires connecting network devices and configuring host computers for basic network connectivity. SubnetA and SubnetB are subnets that are currently needed. SubnetC, SubnetD, SubnetE, and SubnetF are anticipated subnets, not yet connected to the network.

Note to instructor: To reinforce student cable identification, have several different types of cables available for the students. Mix crossover, straight-through, and rollover cables. Students should be able to identify the proper cable type based on a visual inspection.

Task 1: Design the Logical Lab Topology.

Given an IP address and mask of 172.20.0.0 / 24 (address / mask), design an IP addressing scheme that satisfies the following requirements:

Note: Always start with the subnet with the largest number of hosts and work your way down. Therefore, you should start with SubnetB and finish with SubnetA.

Step 1: Design SubnetB address block.

Begin the logical network design by satisfying the requirement of SubnetB, which requires the largest block of IP addresses. Using binary numbers to create your subnet chart, pick the first address block that will support SubnetB.

1. Fill in the following table with IP address information for SubnetB:

2. What is the bit mask in binary?
11111111.1111111.11111111.11000000

Step 3: Design SubnetD address block.

Satisfy the requirement of SubnetD, the next largest IP address block. Using binary numbers to create your subnet chart, pick the next available address block that will support SubnetD.

1. Fill in the following table with IP address information for SubnetD:

2. What is the bit mask in binary?
11111111.1111111.11111111.11100000

Step 4: Design SubnetE address block.

Satisfy the requirement of SubnetE, the next largest IP address block. Using binary numbers to create your subnet chart, pick the next available address block that will support SubnetE.

1. Fill in the following table with IP address information for SubnetE:

2. What is the bit mask in binary?
11111111.1111111.11111111.11110000

Step 5: Design SubnetF address block.

Satisfy the requirement of SubnetF, the next largest IP address block. Using binary numbers to create your subnet chart, pick the next available address block that will support SubnetF.

1. Fill in the following table with IP address information for SubnetF:

2. What is the bit mask in binary?
11111111.1111111.11111111.11111000

Step 6: Design SubnetA address block.

Satisfy the requirement of SubnetA, the smallest IP address block. Using binary numbers to create your subnet chart, pick the next available address block that will support SubnetA.

1. Fill in the following table with IP address information for SubnetA:

2. What is the bit mask in binary?
11111111.1111111.11111111.11111100

Task 2: Configure the Physical Lab Topology.

Step 1: Physically connect lab devices.

1. Cable the network devices as shown in Figure 1. Pay special attention to the crossover cable required between Host1 and Router1.

Figure 1. Cabling the Network

2. If not already enabled, turn power on to all devices.

Step 2: Visually inspect network connections.

After cabling the network devices, take a moment to verify the connections. Attention to detail now will minimize the time required to troubleshoot Layer 1 connectivity issues later.

Task 3: Configure the Logical Topology.

Step 1: Document logical network settings.

On SubnetA, Host1 will use the first IP address in the subnet. Router1, interface Fa0/0, will use the last host address. On SubnetB, host computers will use the first and second IP addresses in the subnet, respectively. Router1, interface Fa0/1, will use the last network host address.

To properly route Layer 2 frames between LAN devices, Switch1 does not require Layer 3 configuration. The IP address assigned to Switch 1, interface VLAN 1, is used to establish Layer 3 connectivity between external devices and the switch. Without an IP address, upper-layer protocols such as TELNET and HTTP will not work. The default gateway address permits the switch to respond to protocol requests from devices on distant networks. For example, the IP gateway address extends Layer 3 connectivity beyond Subnet B. Switch1 will use the next-to-last host address.

Write down the IP address information for each device:

Step 2: Configure host computers.

1. On each computer, in turn, click Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. Right-click the LAN icon, and choose Properties. On the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click the, Properties button.

2. Verify that the Host1 Layer 3 IP address is on a different subnet than Host2 and Host3. Configure each host computer using the IP address information recorded in Step 1.

3. Verify proper configuration of each host computer with the ipconfig command and fill in the following table:

Step 3: Configure Router1.

1. From the Windows taskbar, start the HyperTerminal program by clicking Start > Programs > Accessories > Communications > HyperTerminal. Configure HyperTerminal for access to Router1. Configuration for Router1 includes the following tasks:

2. Save the configuration in NVRAM.

3. Display the contents of RAM: show running-config

4. Write the configuration specifications below:

Hostname: Router1
Enable secret password: cisco
Console access password: class
Telnet access password: class
MOTD banner: Answers will vary

5. Display configuration information for interface Fa0/0: show interface Fa0/0

FastEthernet 0/0 status (up / down): should be up
Line protocol: should be up
MAC Address: Answers will vary

6. Display configuration information for interface Fa0/1: show interface Fa0/1

FastEthernet 0/0 status (up / down): should be up
Line protocol: should be up
MAC Address: Answers will vary

7. Display brief IP address information about each interface: show ip interface brief

Interface        IP-Address          OK? Method Status  Protocol
FastEthernet0/0  answers will vary   YES manual up      up
FastEthernet0/1  answers will vary   YES manual up      up

8. Take corrective action with any problems, and retest.

Step 4: Configure Switch1.

1. Move the console cable from Router1 to Switch1.

2. Press Enter until a response is received.

3. Configuration for Switch1 includes the following tasks:

4. Display the contents of RAM: show running-config

5. Write the configuration specifications below:

Hostname: Switch1
Enable secret password: cisco
Console access password: class
Telnet access password: class
MOTD banner: Answers will vary
Interface VLAN 1: Answers will vary
Default IP gateway address: Answers will vary

6. Display configuration information for interface VLAN 1: show interface vlan1

VLAN 1 status (up / down): should be up
Line protocol: should be up

Task 4: Verify Network Connectivity.

Step 1: Use the ping command to verify network connectivity.

Network connectivity can be verified with the ping command. It is very important that connectivity exists throughout the network. Corrective action must be taken if there is a failure.

1. Use the following table to methodically verify connectivity with each network device:

2. Take corrective action to establish connectivity if a test fails.

Note: If pings to host computers fail, temporarily disable the computer firewall and retest. To disable a Windows firewall, click Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall, choose Off, and then click OK.

Step 2: Use the tracert command to verify local connectivity.

1. From Host1, issue the tracert command to Host2 and Host3.

2. Record the results:

From Host1 to Host2: Answers should show success
From Host1 to Host3: Answers should show success

Step 3: Verify Layer 2 connectivity.

1. If not already connected, move the console cable from Router1 to Switch1.

2. Press the Enter key until there is a response from Switch1.

3. Issue the command show mac-address-table. This command will display static (CPU) and dynamic, or learned, entries.

4. List the dynamic MAC addresses and corresponding switch ports:

5. Verify that there are three dynamically learned MAC addresses, one each from Fa0/1, Fa0/2, and Fa0/3.

Task 5: Reflection

Review any physical or logical configuration problems encountered during this lab. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the procedures used to verify network connectivity.

Task 6: Challenge

Ask your instructor or another student to introduce one or two problems in your network when you aren’t looking or are out of the lab room. Problems can be either physical (wrong UTP cable) or logical (wrong IP address or gateway). To fix the problems:

1. Perform a good visual inspection. Look for green link lights on Switch1.

2. Use the table provided in Task 3, above, to identify failed connectivity. List the problems:

3. Write down your proposed solution(s):

4. Test your solution. If the solution fixed the problem, document the solution. If the solution did not fix the problem, continue troubleshooting.

Task 7: Clean Up.

Unless directed otherwise by the instructor, restore host computer network connectivity, and then turn off power to the host computers.

Before turning off power to the router and switch, remove the NVRAM configuration file from each device with the privileged exec command erase startup-config.

Carefully remove cables and return them neatly to their storage. Reconnect cables that were disconnected for this lab.

Remove anything that was brought into the lab, and leave the room ready for the next class.

Appendix—List of Cisco IOS commands used in this lab