Design Models 17
Controlling Broadcasts
Broadcasts serve a necessary function in network communications. All stations listen and accept
broadcasts. As long as the amount of broadcast traffic remains low, they do not negatively impact
the network. Desktop protocols, which are discussed in detail later, typically use broadcasts to
launch services and find neighbors. These protocols can produce an excessive number of
broadcasts. When stations spend too much time processing broadcasts and a significant amount
of network bandwidth is devoted to processing broadcasts, the network can become inefficient.
The CCDP must ensure that broadcasts do not impede the transmission of vital data.
Strategic Internetwork Design
Strategic internetwork design is also called macro internetwork design.
Macro internetwork design includes the following:
·
Capacity planning
·
Overall internetwork topology
·
Budget
·
Network applications requirements
·
Network management
·
Policy decisions
·
Planning for
-- Growth
-- Change
-- Disaster
-- Phased implementation
·
Choosing vendors and platforms
Design Models
Several design models have been proven to work when implemented properly. The following
paragraphs discuss the campus LAN design models that are recommended by Cisco.
87200333.book Page 17 Wednesday, August 22, 2001 2:18 PM