<DIV><p>Go beyond layer 2 broadcast domains with this in-depth tour of advanced link and internetwork layer protocols, and learn how they enable you to expand to larger topologies. An ideal follow-up to <i>Packet Guide to Core Network Protocols</i>, this concise guide dissects several of these protocols to explain their structure and operation.</p><p>This isn't a book on packet theory. Author Bruce Hartpence built topologies in a lab as he wrote this guide, and each chapter includes several packet captures. You'll learn about protocol classification, static vs. dynamic topologies, and reasons for installing a particular route.</p><p> This guide covers:</p><ul><li><b>Host routing</b>—Process a routing table and learn how traffic starts out across a network </li><li><b>Static routing</b>—Build router routing tables and understand how forwarding decisions are made and processed </li><li><b>Spanning Tree Protocol</b>—Learn how this protocol is an integral part of every network containing switches </li><li><b>Virtual Local Area Networks</b>—Use VLANs to address the limitations of layer 2 networks </li><li><b>Trunking</b>—Get an indepth look at VLAN tagging and the 802.1Q protocol </li><li><b>Routing Information Protocol</b>—Understand how this distance vector protocol works in small, modern communication networks </li><li><b>Open Shortest Path First</b>—Discover why convergence times of OSPF and other link state protocols are improved over distance vectors </li></ul></div>