Information Technology Assignment: Plan & Manage Troubleshooting Advanced Integrated IP Networks

Question

Task: In this information technology assignment you are required to test advanced network as per Monitoring, Troubleshooting and Maintenance Plan. During testing you are required to troubleshoot switch and Router Configuration including:

• switch-to-switch connectivity,
• access ports
• Trunk Ports
• Spanning Tree Protocol
• VLANs
• switch virtual interfaces (SVI)
• Switchport Security

With the Troubleshooting Evidence you are required to attach below Monitoring, Troubleshooting and Maintenance Plan.

Answer

Introduction:
The information technology assignment is based on the planning and managing of the troubleshooting techniques in an advanced and integrated IP networks. Network troubleshooting techniques is very significant for an organization and thus proper planning must need to be there. The purpose of this task is to test an advanced network based on the troubleshooting, monitoring and maintenance planning.

Testing of Router and Switch configuration and connectivity:
This section of the report is associated with the testing of the switch connection and router configuration. After testing if the connection is not able to provide the possible output, then there may be a chance of connection issue. However, the purpose of the assignment is to test the different port and connection along with the security. Test of every security protocol and port is shown in the below assignment with the proper screenshot. As per assignment, I have been employed by Ford Pty and assigned for testing the network.

To accomplish the task, I have developed a complex network having provided features. Now the job is to test the network and provide the appropriate screenshots of it as per the Monitoring, Troubleshooting, and Maintenance Plan.

Switch-to-switch connectivity:
It tells about the connection between the switches and transferring of the data between them. At the time of configuring LAN network, switch is used and it helps to transfer the packets in between computer systems. At the time of VLAN implementation in the network, switch plays a vital role. However, when green light is displaying at the interface end then it signifies, both switch is connected successfully.

Access Ports:
An access point is one type of connection upon switching transmitting data to and from a particular VLAN. The access port can send and receive untagged frames. This interface might be configured upon switch ports connected to end devices like printers, workstations, etc.

Trunk Ports:
The trunk port is connected to another switch and this interface can able to carry out multiple VLANs’ traffic. Specific port type upon network switch allows data for flowing across network node for multiple VLAN. M

Spanning Tree Protocol:
It is shortly known as the STP. It is a Layer 2 type of protocol and used for preventing the looping with in a network. Mainly STP was created for avoiding the problems that arises when computer starts exchanging data on a local area network that contains redundant paths. At the time, when the flow of data is not monitored carefully that time data is caught in a loop and that circle around the network segments which affecting performance and halt the traffic.

VLANs:
The abbreviation of VLAN is "Virtual Local Area Network". Custom network VLAN is built from one or other LANs (Mehdizadeha et al., 2017). VLAN can enable available device groups within multiple networks. VLAN can increase possible domains in LAN.

Switch Virtual Interface (SVI):
SVI is known as Virtual Interface and it is configured upon Layer-3 devices. This SVI can able to perform routing over IP subnets. It is so faster and works upon a 3-Layer of OSI Model (Grandmetric, 2021). Switchport security: Switchport security is often referred to as Port Security that aids in network security by intercepting unauthorized from forwarding packets. It can implement two types of traffic filtering processes- static locking, and dynamic locking.

Figure-1: Network Configuration
Source: (Self-created)

Figure-2: Switch Configuration
Source: (Self-created)

Network Troubleshooting, Monitoring and Maintenance Plan:
Network troubleshooting is mixed processes and measures applied to determine, and resolve problems in computer network. Troubleshooting is one kind of iterative process and more data is collected or analyzed.

Reference:
Mehdizadeha, A., Suinggia, K., Mohammadpoorb, M. and Haruna, H., 2017, December. Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN): Segmentation and Security. Information technology assignmentIn The Third International Conference on Computing Technology and Information Management (ICCTIM2017) (pp. 78-89).

Grandmetric (2021): SVI configuration (Cisco) [Online] https://www.grandmetric.com/knowledge-base/design_and_configure/how-to-create-svi-interface-cisco/ [Accessed on 25th October]

Result (for use by assessor only)