1. Consider the way in which the implementation of a VLAN can simplify network management and troubleshooting and improve network performance. Share a description of the manner in which trucking protocols assist in the implementation of VLANs in campus networks based on your learning this week and perhaps some real-world experience you might have.

Think about a situation in which you would need to prevent Layer 2 connectivity between devices on a switch in the same VLAN without placing the devices in different IP subnets. 

2. Put yourself in the position of a network manager, and based on your analysis above, decide which method you would choose over the others. Explain your rationale. Determine the way in which you would configure and verify the routing method.

3. Imagine that you are a network engineer at a midsized university. Your supervisor has informed you that academic personnel are experiencing problems when they attempt to access the server that contains student information such as grades, attendance, and financial information. You have access to the network devices and the server, but the client devices are located remotely, so you will not be able to start from there. Suggest at least two possible troubleshooting approaches to resolve the problems that the academic personnel are experiencing. Explain the primary benefits and drawbacks of each approach. Provide rationales to support your responses.

Imagine that you are a network engineer and you have been tasked with identifying the cause of a network outage. What are the required steps of analyzing a hypothesis? Explain your scenario and describe how you would propose a hypothesis.

4. According to the text, a key element of a proactive network management strategy is fault notification. As a network engineer, determine the key individuals whom you should notify in the occurrence of a network event. Next, analyze the manner in which syslog and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) can assist in the notification process. Determine when you would suggest using one protocol over the other. Include one example or scenario that demonstrates the use of such protocol to support your response.

Analyze the tools used to conduct a baseline assessment (e.g., SNMP, RMON, NBAR, and the IP SLA). Select the tool that you believe is the most useful in creating a baseline assessment. Provide one example of using the tool that you selected to support your response.

5. Describe the key processes that take place when two (2) IP hosts communicate over a switched LAN. Propose at least one (1) common issue that may occur in a switched LAN environment and suggest one (1) strategy to resolve the issue in question. Speculate on the consequences of not maintaining successful operation of the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). Analyze the manner in with the Root Bridge, Root Port, and designated ports could be involved in the troubleshooting process. Determine when you would suggest using one (1) STP technology over the other for a specific network. Include at least one (1) example or scenario of using such technology to support your response.

6. Explain the Route Bridge Election that takes place on a Switch. How is the root Switch determined?