This is where switching starts to get properly practical. Learn how VLANs divide a LAN, how trunks carry multiple VLANs, how devices route between them, how switches discover neighbours, bundle links, prevent loops and support wireless access.
Network Access focuses heavily on Ethernet switching and the technologies used to make a LAN scalable, segmented and resilient.
We'll start with VLANs and trunks, then move into inter-VLAN routing, neighbour discovery, EtherChannel and spanning tree before covering wireless architecture and device management.
This is where the Baznetic approach becomes especially useful: learn the concept, configure it, then verify it with show commands.
Work through these in order if switching is new to you. Otherwise, jump straight to the topic you need.
Understand broadcast domains, VLAN membership, access ports, VLAN IDs and how switching segmentation works in a real LAN.
Carry multiple VLANs between switches using 802.1Q tagging, native VLANs and allowed VLAN lists.
Learn how routers and Layer 3 switches provide connectivity between VLANs using router-on-a-stick and switched virtual interfaces.
Discover directly connected network devices, understand the difference between Cisco CDP and standards-based LLDP, and verify neighbour information from the CLI.
Bundle multiple physical Ethernet links into one logical link using static configuration or LACP.
Understand Layer 2 loops, root bridges, port roles, path cost, blocked paths and the core behaviour of STP and Rapid PVST+.
Autonomous and controller-based APs, lightweight APs, CAPWAP, controller interfaces and how enterprise wireless fits into the LAN.
Console, SSH, Telnet concepts, management VLANs, local credentials, secure remote access and the basic Cisco IOS management workflow.
Network Access is where configuration becomes a major part of the learning process. Each lesson will include the relevant Cisco IOS commands and, just as importantly, the commands used to verify the result.