Course Introduction

The Dell Networking Corrective Maintenance course is designed to provide you with an
overview of key networking concepts.
This course consists of the following modules.
Module 1: Basic Networking Technologies

 Networking terminology
Module 5: Switch Firmware
 Network Components
 Networking Cables  Firmware upgrade best practices
 Campus vs. Data Center Routing and  Upgrading various operating
Switching systems
 Networking Teaming
 Interswitch Connection
Module 2: Dell EMC Networking Products
Overview

 Networking Portfolio Module 6: Replacing Switch

 N-Series ON Switches Components
 S-Series
 Common switch FRUs
 Z-Series
 Replacement procedures
 C-Series
 VEP4600
 W-Series
Module 3: Physical Setup Module 7: Switch Replacements

 Connecting to a switch  Switch replacement best practices

 Physical assemblies  Switch replacement steps
Module 4: Initial Switch Connection Module 8: Additional Support

 Connecting to a switch  Telephone support

 Common CLI commands  Online support

Course Goal and Objectives

Goal
The goal for this course is to familiarize you with common networking-specific terms and
vocabulary, and basic networking technologies.
 Objectives
By the end of the course, participants have knowledge about identifying common general
networking terms and vocabulary, components, and their usage. They can:

 Identify common network terms and vocabulary.

 Explain and/or describe basic networking theory, concepts, and components.
 Identify physical hardware required to establish a network of three or more computing
devices.
 Identify key components that are used in creating a local area network.
 Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the different kind of network cables.
 Determine the differences between campus and data center switching and routing.
 List the key function of a NIC.
 List the key functions of Layer 2 switches.
 Identify the network configuration options when a server is multihomed.
 Identify the native and Dell-specific configuration tools for Dell-supported NICs,
including multihomed servers.
 Identify interswitch connection options on a Layer 2 switch.

Networking Terminology
The following tabs illustrate the terms and vocabulary that is typically found in the networking
environment:
Click each tab on the left. Click Next at the bottom when you are finished reviewing these
terms.

 NIC
 10Base-T, 1GbaseT, 10GbaseT
 RJ45
 SFP, SFP+, QSFP, QSFP+
 Broadcast, Broadcast Domain
 Collision, Collision Domain

 Description

NIC - Network Interface Card. A network adapter on a circuit board that plugs into a
computer's internal bus architecture.

Networking Terminology (Cont)

Click on each tab on the left. Click on Next at the bottom center when you are finished
reviewing these terms.
 Hub, Switch
 Layer 2 Switch, Layer 3 Switch
 Wireless Access Point
 MAC, MAC Table
 IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway Address
 Firewall, Proxy Host
 Multi-Homed

 Description

Hub - A common connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are commonly used to
connect segments of a LAN. A hub contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives at
one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see all
packets.

Switch - In networks, a switch is a device that filters and forwards packets between LAN
segments. Switches operate at the data link layer (layer 2) and sometimes the network
layer (layer 3) of the OSI Reference Model, and therefore support any packet protocol.
LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs or, in the case of
Ethernet networks, switched Ethernet LANs.

 10base-T - Similar to the standard telephone cabling and also

known as Twisted Pair Ethernet, 10BASE-T is a 10 MBps CSMA/CD
(carrier sense multiple access with collision detection) Ethernet
LAN that works on Category 3 or better twisted-pair cables.
10BASE-T cables can be up to 100 m in length.

1GbaseT - 1GbaseT is also known as 1000BASE-T or 802.3z/802.3ab. It is a later

Ethernet technology that utilizes all four copper wires in a Category 5 (Cat 5 and Cat 5e)
capable of transferring 1 Gbps.

10GbaseT - 10GbaseT is also known as 802.3ae. It is a new standard that was

published in 2002 and supports up to 10 Gbps transmissions. 10 GbE defines only full-
duplex point-to-point links that are connected by network switches, unlike previous
Ethernet standards. Half-duplex operation, CSMA/CD (carrier sense multiple access
with collision detection), and hubs do not exist in 10GbE.

RJ-45 - An RJ-45 is an 8-pin connection used for Ethernet network adapters.

This connector is most commonly connected to the end of Cat 5 or Cat 6 cable, which is
connected between a computer network card and a network device such as a network
router

 SFP - Small form-factor pluggable (SFP) is a specification for a

new generation of optical modular transceivers. The devices are
 designed for use with small form factor (SFF) connectors, and
offer high speed and physical compactness. They are hot-
swappable.

SFP+ - SFP+ is an enhanced version of the SFP that supports data rates up to 10 Gbps.
SFP+ supports 8 Gbps Fibre Channel, 10 GbE, and Optical Transport Network standard
OTU2. It is a popular industry format supported by many network component vendors.

QSFP - Quad SFP (QSFP) is a compact, hot-pluggable transceiver also used for data
communications applications.

QSFP+ - QSFP+ evolved as the standard to support 4x10Gbps or 40 Gbps data rates per
SFF-8436. Compared with QSFP+, QSFP products support Quad Small Form-factor
Pluggable with the different data rate so that there is no change in the product solution.
Nowadays, QSFP+ gradually replaces QSFP and is widely used by people as it can
provide higher bandwidth.


 Broadcast - A broadcast describes a message or data sent to more than one
person or device.
 Broadcast Domain - A broadcast domain is a logical division of a computer
network, in which all nodes can reach each other by broadcast at the data link
layer. A broadcast domain can be within the same LAN segment, or it can be
bridged or switched to other LAN segments.
 Collision - An instance when one or more networking devices attempt to send a
carrier signal at the same time onto a shared network. When collisions are
encountered, the network device will stop sending, wait and then try again.

Collision Domain - A collision domain is a section of a network connected by a shared

medium or through repeaters where data packets can collide with one another when
being sent, particularly when using early versions of Ethernet.

 Broadcast - A broadcast describes a message or data sent to

more than one person or device.

Broadcast Domain - A broadcast domain is a logical division of a computer network, in

which all nodes can reach each other by broadcast at the data link layer. A broadcast
domain can be within the same LAN segment, or it can be bridged or switched to other
LAN segments.


  Collision - An instance when one or more networking devices attempt to send a
carrier signal at the same time onto a shared network. When collisions are
encountered, the network device will stop sending, wait and then try again.

Collision Domain - A collision domain is a section of a network connected by a shared

medium or through repeaters where data packets can collide with one another when
being sent, particularly when using early versions of Ethernet.

 Hub - A common connection point for devices in a network. Hubs

are commonly used to connect segments of a LAN. A hub
contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port, it is
copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see
all packets.

Switch - In networks, a switch is a device that filters and forwards packets between LAN
segments. Switches operate at the data link layer (layer 2) and sometimes the network
layer (layer 3) of the OSI Reference Model, and therefore support any packet protocol.
LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs or, in the case of
Ethernet networks, switched Ethernet LANs.

Layer 2 Switch (MAC) - An L2 switch does switching only. This means that it uses MAC
addresses to switch the packets from the incoming port to the destination port (and
only the destination port). It maintains a MAC address table so that it can remember
which ports have which MAC address associated.
Layer 3 Switch (IP) - An L3 switch also does switching exactly like a L2 switch. The L3
means that it has an identity from the L3 layer. Practically this means that an L3 switch
is capable of having IP addresses and routing. For intra-VLAN communication, it uses
the MAC address table. For extra-VLAN communication, it uses the IP routing table.
Wireless Access Point - A wireless access point (WAP) is a networking hardware device that
allows a WiFi-compliant device to connect to a wired network. The WAP usually connects to a
router (via a wired network) as a stand-alone device, but it can also be an integral component of
the router itself.

MAC - A medium access control (MAC) address is a physical address and hardware
address whose number is uniquely formatted in hexadecimal format and given to each
network interface device on a computer network. The addresses are usually assigned
by the hardware manufacturer, and these IDs are considered burned into the firmware
of the network access hardware.

MAC Table - A MAC address table, sometimes called a Content Addressable Memory
(CAM) table, is used on Ethernet switches to determine where to forward traffic on a
LAN.
  IP Address - A unique string of numbers separated by periods that
identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol (IP) to
communicate over a network.

Subnet Mask - Short for subnetwork mask, a subnet mask is data used for bitwise
operations on a network of IP addresses that has been divided into two or more groups.
This process, know as subnetting, enables each device within a subnetwork to
communicate, while still allowing the exchange of information between subnets via the
use of a network router. Dividing a network into subnets can improve security and
balance overall network traffic.

Gateway Address - A gateway address is an address used as an entry point into another
network. For example, 192.168.0.1 could be used as a gateway. The gateway is
commonly the address of a network device such as a network router.

Firewall - A firewall is a software utility or hardware device that limits outside network
access to a computer or local network by blocking or restricting network ports.
Firewalls are a great step for helping prevent unauthorized access to a company or
home network.
Proxy Host - A proxy host is a computer that offers a computer network service to allow
clients to make indirect network connections to other network services. A client
connects to the proxy host, and then requests a connection, file, or other resource
available on a different server. The proxy provides the resource either by connecting to
the specified server or by serving it from a cache.

Multi-Homed - Multi-homed describes a computer host that has multiple IP addresses to

connected networks. A multi-homed host is physically connected to multiple data links that can
be on the same or different networks. For example, a computer with a Windows Server and
multiple IP addresses can be referred to as "multi-homed" and may serve as an IP router.

Computer Network
Devices
Communication devices
Transmission media
A computer network is a collection of computers and devices that are connected together
through communication devices and transmission media.
Usually, the connections between computers in a network are made using physical wires or
cables.

However, some connections are wireless, using radio waves or infrared signals.
 Network Components
Scenario: There are a couple of devices in your office that are off the network grid. You
have been given a task to identify the necessary hardware to set up a network that
meets the following requirements:

 File sharing from the server to all the PCs

 Printer sharing for every personal computer and server
 Local area network only with no Internet connectivity
Go to the next page to complete the activity for this scenario.

Network Components Device and Functions

Based on the requirements that are given to you in the previous slide, the network diagram
should look something like the one below. A router or an L3 switch is not required in this case
because all of the devices are in the same local area network (LAN). A modem is not needed
because this is an intranet-only network with no Internet connection.

Networking Cables
Networking cables are used to connect one network device to another or to connect two
or more computers to share a printer, a scanner, and so on. Different types of network
cables like coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, or twisted-pair cables are used depending
on the networks topology, protocol, and size.
To learn about the pros and cons of different types of network cables, click each tab.

 Coaxial Cable
 Fiber Optic Cable
 Twisted-Pair Cable

Coaxial lines confine the electromagnetic wave inside the cable, between the center
conductor and the shield. The transmission of energy in the line occurs totally through
the dielectric inside the cable between the conductors. Coaxial lines can be bent and
twisted (subject to limits) without negative effects, and they can be strapped to
conductive supports without inducing unwanted currents in them.

Advantages

 Higher bandwidth: 400 to 600 MHz

 Up to 10800 voice conversations
 Can be tapped easily (pros and cons)
 Less susceptible to interference than twisted pair
Disadvantages

 High attenuation rate makes it expensive over long distance

 Bulky
An optical fiber cable consists of a center glass core surrounded by several layers of
protective material. The outer insulating jacket is made of Teflon or PVC to prevent
interference. Optical fiber deployment is more expensive than copper, but offers higher
bandwidth and can cover longer distances.

Advantages

 Greater capacity/bandwidth
 Smaller size and lighter weight
 Lower attenuation
 Immunity to environmental interference
 Highly secure due to tap difficulty and lack of signal radiation
Disadvantages

 Expensive over short distance

 Requires highly skilled installers
 Difficult to add additional nodes


 Twisted pair cabling is a form of wiring in which pairs of wires (the forward and return
conductors of a single circuit) are twisted together for the purposes of canceling out
electromagnetic interference (EMI) from other wire pairs and from external sources.
This type of cable is used for home and corporate Ethernet networks.

Advantages

 Inexpensive and readily available

 Flexible and lightweight
 Easy to work with and install
Disadvantages

 Susceptibility to interference and noise

 Attenuation problem
 For analog, repeaters needed every 5–6 km
 For digital, repeaters needed every 2–3 km
 Relatively low bandwidth (300Hz)