Improving Convergence Time for Access Layer Switch Failures

EIGRP in Layer 3 Campus Network Design

Question

An engineer is designing a Layer 3 campus network running EIGRP between the core, aggregation, and access layers.

The access layer switches will be connected to the aggregation layer using Layer 3 copper connections.

The engineer wants to improve the convergence time for access layer switch failures.

Which technique must the design include?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

A.

In a Layer 3 campus network running EIGRP between the core, aggregation, and access layers, improving convergence time for access layer switch failures is a critical requirement. In case of any failure, the network should quickly restore connectivity and ensure seamless communication.

Option A - Enabling BFD for EIGRP on the access layer uplinks:

Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) is a protocol that provides fast failure detection of a link between two routers. By enabling BFD for EIGRP on the access layer uplinks, the network can quickly detect the link failure and reroute the traffic to an alternate path. Therefore, Option A is a viable solution for improving the convergence time for access layer switch failures.

Option B - Reducing the EIGRP Hello/Hold timer values:

EIGRP uses Hello and Hold timers to detect neighbor failures and maintain neighbor relationships. By reducing the Hello and Hold timer values, the network can quickly detect neighbor failures and trigger a reconvergence process. However, this technique may increase the amount of EIGRP traffic on the network, resulting in a higher resource utilization rate. Therefore, it is not the ideal solution for improving convergence time.

Option C - EIGRP summarization from core to aggregation layer:

EIGRP summarization is a technique that can reduce the size of routing tables and the amount of routing traffic on a network. By summarizing EIGRP routes from the core to the aggregation layer, the network can reduce the number of EIGRP updates, which can improve convergence time. However, this technique may not be effective in reducing the convergence time for access layer switch failures since the failure may occur within the access layer itself.

Option D - EIGRP summarization from access to aggregation layer:

EIGRP summarization from access to aggregation layer may help reduce the size of routing tables and the amount of routing traffic on a network. However, this technique may not be effective in improving convergence time for access layer switch failures since the failure may occur within the access layer itself.

In conclusion, the best technique for improving convergence time for access layer switch failures in a Layer 3 campus network running EIGRP is enabling BFD for EIGRP on the access layer uplinks (Option A).