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2.14. Reflection Checkpoint

Key Takeaways

Before proceeding, ensure you can:

  • Identify which network device solves a given problem (router for inter-network, switch for intra-network, firewall for security)
  • Calculate subnet boundaries, broadcast addresses, and usable hosts for any given CIDR notation
  • Explain WHY VLANs create separate broadcast domains and how this improves network performance
  • Choose the appropriate cable type (fiber vs copper, single-mode vs multimode) based on distance and bandwidth requirements
  • Apply the TCP vs UDP decision framework based on reliability vs speed trade-offs

Connecting Forward

In Phase 3, you'll build on these fundamentals by learning how to configure the switching technologies you've learned about conceptually. VLANs, trunks, EtherChannel, and Spanning Tree all rely on understanding how switches forward frames—the knowledge from sections 2.13 directly enables the configurations in Phase 3.

Self-Check Questions

  1. A network has excessive broadcast traffic causing performance issues. What two approaches could reduce this, and which OSI layer does each operate at?
  2. Given the address 172.16.50.100/22, determine the network address, broadcast address, and explain how you calculated them.
  3. Why would an organization choose a three-tier architecture over a two-tier architecture, and what trade-off are they accepting?