52
Chapter 1
Internetworking
F I G U R E 1 . 2 2
Cisco Catalyst switch products
The Cisco Three-Layer Hierarchical Model
M
ost of us were exposed to hierarchy early in life. Anyone with older
siblings learned what it was like to be at the bottom of the hierarchy! Regard-
less of where you first discovered hierarchy, today most of us experience it
in many aspects of our lives. It is hierarchy that helps us understand where
things belong, how things fit together, and what functions go where. It
brings order and understandability to otherwise complex models. If you
want a pay raise, for instance, hierarchy dictates that you ask your boss, not
your subordinate. That is the person whose role it is to grant (or deny) your
request.
Hierarchy has many of the same benefits in network design that it does in
other areas of life. When used properly, it makes networks more predictable.
Desktop/workgroup
solutions
Wiring
closet/backbone
solutions
Cisco 1548 Micro
Switch 10/100
Catalyst
1900/2820 series
Catalyst 2900
series XL
Catalyst 2900
series
Catalyst
3000 series
Catalyst
8500 series
Catalyst
5000 series
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