Route My World!

Converged Networks

• A network where all types of traffic such as data, voice, and video coexist.
• Different types of traffic include:
  • Voice and video – IP telephony, and other applications such as video broadcasts and conferencing
  • Mission-critical Traffic – for example, patient records at a hospital.
  • Transactional traffic – related to traffic generated from database interactions (e-commerce, for example)
  • Routing Protocol Traffic – RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, etc.
  • Network Management Traffic – such as traffic for network monitoring and other information about the network.

Cisco Intelligent Information Network (IIN)

• A Cisco strategy that addresses how the network handles traffic for business priorities. It is considered an alternative to QoS. It integrates network and application functionality.
• Built on top of the Enterprise Composite Model
• It has three phases:
  1. Integrated Transport – consolidation of data, voice, and video transport into a single, standards-based, network module.
  2. Integrated Services - virtualized resources. Example, an Integrated Services Router (ISR).
  3. Integrated Applications – making networks “application-aware”.

Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture Framework

• The Cisco SONA is an architectural approach to connect Network Services to Applications to enable Business Solutions.

• SONA framework’s three layers:
  • Network Infrastructure Layer – the layer where all the IT resources are interconnected. These resources are located in various places in the network. The objective of this layer is to provide connectivity, anywhere and anytime.
  • Interactive Services Layer – allocates resources to applications.
  • Application Layer – includes business applications and collaboration applications. The objective of this layer is to meet business objectives and achieve efficiencies by leveraging the interactive services layer.

Cisco Enterprise Architecture

• Cisco Enterprise Campus Architecture – combination of intelligent switching and routing with tightly integrated productivity-enhancing technology, such as IP communications, mobility, and advanced security. It provides high availability through solid multi-layer design, redundant hardware, software features, and failure recovery.
• Cisco Enterprise Data Center Architecture – supports requirements for consolidation, business continuance, and security. Supports emerging service-oriented architectures, virtualization, and on-demand computing. Redundant data centers provide backup. Network and devices provide server and application load balancing.
• Cisco Enterprise Branch Architecture – extends services to remote locations or branch offices.
• Cisco Enterprise Teleworker Architecture – delivers data and voice to the home office.
• Cisco Enterprise WAN Architecture – distribute voice, data, and video in a converged platform over large geographic areas.

Cisco Hierarchical Network Model

• Access Layer - user access to the network and assigning them to VLANs. Avoid implementing network policies here to avoid complexity, costs, and slow down of devices.
• Distribution Layer – aggregates the wiring closets and uses the switches to create functional separation of workgroups and networks. Also aggregates WAN connection at the edge of the campus. Act as intermediate devices that route them between VLANs. Also used to apply policy-based connectivity, such as firewall or QoS.
• Core Layer (aka Backbone) - high-speed backbone designed to switch packets as fast as possible. It is not a good idea to implement traffic policies here as well as it would slow down the devices, which goes against its purpose to move traffic quickly.

This older hierarchically model lacked some features to address several issues such as:

• Implementing redundancy
• Addition of Internet access and security
• Accounting for remote access
• Locating workgroup and enterprise services.

The following model addressed those issues.

Cisco Enterprise Composite Network Model

A newer design compared to the older Cisco hierarchical model. It expands from the older model by making some specific recommendations about how and where certain network functions should be implemented.

• Enterprise Campus – it contains the following components:
  • Building – houses the access switches and end user devices
  • Building distribution – includes the distribution switches
  • Core – the campus backbone that provides high speed access between buildings
  • Edge distribution – interface in between the Enterprise Campus and the Enterprise Edge
  • Server farm – the campus data center
  • Management – management functionalities such as monitoring logging, security, etc.
• Enterprise Edge - connects the enterprise campus to the WAN. Includes the following components:
  • E-commerce – network components that provide e-commerce functionality such as online ordering system.
  • Corporate Internet – provides internet services and access.
  • VPN and Remote Access – where remote VPN access from remote users terminate
  • WAN – provides connectivity to remote sites.
• Service Provider Edge – includes:
  • ISP – services the internet connection
  • PSTN – non-permanent connections such as dial-up, analog phones, cell phones and ISDN
  • Frame Relay, ATM, and PPP connectivity – permanent connections to remote locations.

Routing and Routing Protocols Within the Enterprise Composite Network Model

The rest of this preparation will focus on different IP routing solutions that is an integral part of designing a network.

Resources:

1. Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) (Authorized Self-Study Guide), Third Ed.
2. CCNP BSCI Official Exam Certification Guide, Fourth Ed.
3. SAFE Blueprint
4. Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture (SONA)
5. SONA Integrated Network Services At-a-Glance (Overview)

This entry is not an authoritative guide. These are merely notes and rehash of the primary text materials and resources that I use. For a thorough guide of the BSCI course, consider purchasing Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) (Authorized Self-Study Guide) (3rd Edition) by Diane Teare and Catherine Paquet, as well as following the links on the resources section of this entry.