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Posted

I understand the basic theory of a VLAN but have no idea how you would implement it on a switch. We have HP Procurve switches in our secondary (no VLANs) and Cisco switches in our Primary (2 VLANs). I want to know what I am doing when we have issues at the Primary.

 

Is the following book a good starting point? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cisco-Networking-All-One-Dummies/dp/0470945583

 

Does anyone recommend any others?

 

I want to set up a small network to test things out on ;

 

I have access to an HP Procurve 2848 and an HP A5120. I know neither of these is a Cisco but its all i have access to. What else do I need? Is either of these switches a Layer 3 switch?

Posted
I would look at the CCENT (ICND 1) material. You will get a good understanding of general network plus a few Cisco specific bits.
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Posted
I understand the basic theory of a VLAN but have no idea how you would implement it on a switch. We have HP Procurve switches in our secondary (no VLANs) and Cisco switches in our Primary (2 VLANs). I want to know what I am doing when we have issues at the Primary.

 

Is the following book a good starting point? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cisco-Networking-All-One-Dummies/dp/0470945583

 

Does anyone recommend any others?

 

I want to set up a small network to test things out on ;

 

I have access to an HP Procurve 2848 and an HP A5120. I know neither of these is a Cisco but its all i have access to. What else do I need? Is either of these switches a Layer 3 switch?

 

Have you got a smoothwall? The smoothie can be configured to dish out DHCP requests across different VLANs. We had a layer 3 switch which hosted the VLANs but just remember to use IP HELPER if you have a server on VLAN1 and its dishing out different subnets. Play with static IPs first and then work from there.

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Posted
I'd like to qualify my earlier "read the HP manual" comment: Vendor documentation is probably the best resource you can find. The manufacturers really, really want you to implement their technologies and the good ones (HP networking, Cisco, IBM etc) make some fantastic resources available for free. They often include their own terminology and emphasise their proprietary protocols/services (not to the extent that MS try and re-write things). The important 'concept' stuff is open standards which are implemented by all vendors; so go get yourself some manuals as they are all readily available.
Posted
I've ordered the official CCENT guide and the dummies guide

 

I looked at CBT nuggets but it was quite expensive.

 

Doesn't cost as much as the courses :)

 

Look for subnetting tutorials on Youtube. You need to learn how to subnet in less than 2 minutes.

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Posted

It might not be the best way, but the way I learnt how to do it on HP kit was to read the manuals, then spend a few evening at work - backup the switch config so it's easy to roll back if you have an issue, choose a port on one switch, choose a port on another switch - keep working on the config so the vlan squirts out where you want.

 

I then did some L3 stuff routing between vlans and adding secondary DHCP servers - like using our firewall to provide DHCP to our guest wireless vlan and just went from there.

 

You'll learn loads more reading and doing at the same time time than just reading.

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Posted
I will be doing exactly that but I cant do it on the live system. I have the 2 HP switches and I will be buying a couple of cisco SG-300-10 ports. This will give me experience on both HP and cisco.
Posted
I will be doing exactly that but I cant do it on the live system. I have the 2 HP switches and I will be buying a couple of cisco SG-300-10 ports. This will give me experience on both HP and cisco.

 

Do not get those! They are small business switches, essentially Linksys with a Cisco badge. They will be nothing like the content you have learnt. You need Cisco catalyst switches.

 

+1 for Packet Tracer. No need to get physical then.

Posted
Do not get those! They are small business switches, essentially Linksys with a Cisco badge. They will be nothing like the content you have learnt. You need Cisco catalyst switches.

 

+1 for Packet Tracer. No need to get physical then.

 

Don't they use the Cisco ios? It's what the primary school have already got but with more ports.

Posted
99% sure they don't.

 

I need to know how to configure their switches. They have sg300s and a couple of sg500s in a stack.

Posted
Do not get those! They are small business switches, essentially Linksys with a Cisco badge. They will be nothing like the content you have learnt. You need Cisco catalyst switches.

 

+1 for Packet Tracer. No need to get physical then.

 

Any recommendations for catalyst switches? 2nd hand off ebay would be ok.

Posted
Any recommendations for catalyst switches? 2nd hand off ebay would be ok.

 

Catalyst 2950's will do the job. You get 100mbs ones for nothing these days. If your planning on getting certified (CCNA or CCENT) these are the way to go.

 

Thanks

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Posted
Catalyst 2950's will do the job. You get 100mbs ones for nothing these days. If your planning on getting certified (CCNA or CCENT) these are the way to go.

 

Perfect for switching. Couple more quid for a 3550 and you'll be able to do multilayer stuff too without a router, or add some routers in for a full lab.

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