5.00
(2 Ratings)

Mastering VLANs and Trunking

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About Course

A comprehensive guide to VLANs, trunking, and Layer 2 switching… simply explained!

Welcome to Mastering VLANs and Trunking: a practical, beginner-to-intermediate course designed to demystify Layer 2 networking. Whether you’re just starting out or need to strengthen your fundamentals, this course will give you the confidence to design, configure, and troubleshoot VLANs and trunks.

The course features hands-on labs using Cisco IOS, but the concepts apply across all major networking vendors. Each lesson includes step-by-step guidance to help you build real-world skills.

The course includes:

  • A downloadable PDF that summarizes the key concepts of each lesson and includes study and discussion questions to help you deepen your understanding, as well as links to other resources.
  • For lessons with labs, the accompanying PDF includes information that will help you to implement the lab yourself and extend it further on your own time.
  • Two quizzes and a final exam will test your understanding of the concepts discussed.
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What Will You Learn?

  • Understand the purpose of VLANs and how they improve network segmentation and efficiency
  • Configure VLANs and trunk links on Cisco switches using industry best practices
  • Explain how Ethernet frames are tagged and transmitted across trunks using 802.1Q
  • Distinguish between access ports, trunk ports, and native VLAN behavior
  • Implement and verify Inter-VLAN routing using Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs)
  • Use Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) and VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) effectively
  • Identify and configure special VLAN types including voice, management, and private VLANs
  • Secure your network using black hole VLANs and proper trunk configurations
  • Troubleshoot common VLAN and trunking issues with practical show commands and labs
  • Build scalable, well-organized Layer 2 topologies for real-world environments

Course Content

Introduction to VLANs and Trunking
The Introduction to VLANs and Trunking section lays the foundation for understanding how and why VLANs are used to segment networks, and how trunks enable VLANs to span multiple switches. Through clear explanations and hands-on labs, you'll learn the core concepts, frame behavior, and basic configuration needed to start building efficient, scalable Layer 2 networks.

  • Introduction
    05:28
  • Why do we use VLANs?
    11:54
  • VLAN Tagging and 802.1Q Frame Behavior
    15:35
  • VLAN and Trunking Basic Configuration
    45:21
  • Quiz – Introduction to VLANs and Trunking

VLAN Protocols, Inter-VLAN Routing, and Special VLANs
In this section, you'll deepen your understanding of VLANs and trunking by exploring essential Cisco protocols like DTP and VTP, and learning how to route between VLANs using Inter-VLAN routing. Through hands-on labs, you'll gain practical experience configuring trunk negotiation, VLAN propagation, and Layer 3 switching with SVIs.

VLAN and Trunking Lab
The final section brings everything together with a comprehensive lab that reinforces all the key VLAN and trunking concepts covered in the course. It concludes with a wrap-up video that highlights core takeaways and provides direction for further learning and skill development.

Student Ratings & Reviews

5.0
Total 2 Ratings
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DK
David Kunze
6 days ago
Excellent course! I would highly recommend this course for anyone working in networking and especially with VLANs and trunking. Thank you Lazarith! Well done!
CP
Carlos Pernia
8 months ago
Thumbs up for this course, as Lazarus says when finishing each video, things are simply explained.