WAN Help

[techjess323]

Im following CBT nuggets lab and they have a 3 city setup in a physical lab i am trying to replicate. I pretty much got all setup but he refers to connecting all three cities using a "MetroE" switch where i believe all the routers go. What device would this be in the Network Devices portion of packet tracer? Thanks!

[Francesco Molino]

Hi

Don't know which lab you're talking about and specially which protocol they're exactly using.
Anyways, metroE switches are service provider grade devices and quite sure you won't have it in packet-tracer.
You can use a routeur with and ethernet module to be able to use wan capabilities required. I believe this is available on packet-tracer but can't confirm as i don't have it right now.

[paul driver]

Hello

It sounds like for the purpose of labbing you need a switch to provide the physical connectivity between each site rtr.

If the rtrs share the same Ethernet segment then the switch can just be at L2 but if you need L3 interconnection then the switch would need provide the underlying routing for each connectivity

[techjess323]

Thank you both for your very helpful answers. I did not know what those kind of switches were and now that makes sense. I am basically trying to replicate this physical lab set up:

Location one has 1 router, two core switches, 1 access switch, Access Point

Location 2 has a router with an access switch,

Location three has Router with Access switch

With each site being a different state. 

Then he has the internet going to location 1, with all three routers going to the metroE switch(95% sure) at location 1 as well. 

I have the complete site setups in packet tracer, but not sure what would replace Internet/MetroE switch and not sure how to connect them with as similar to the physical lab as possible. 

What i think I have gathered from the replies is that I can @Francesco Molino Bypass metroE switch and just run Ethernet to all three routers? and have a modem connected to one site? 

[Francesco Molino]

I don't have your design (labs and features used) but if you only need pure switching features then a simple switch will be ok.
If you need specific ISP features (layer 2 encaps over l3,...) you will need a router.
If you need q-in-q, I believe you won't have this available on packet-tracer but you can validate on release notes.

[paul driver]

Hell
Can you post a topology diagram?

[techjess323]

Sorry guys. This is what i have so far. You can let me know if anything is connected wrong. But basically each is a site, and would like to replicate just physically connecting. Havent gotten into any logical connections yet, as that is what we are going to go through in the labs I believe. But no rush as the subscription is expensive so i might even cancel and go through Odems books. 

[techjess323]

I would like to see how to make the other two smaller sites communicate to the main site. I bet I am completely botching the idea or possibility. But any reccs are greatly appreciated. 

[Francesco Molino · Accepted solution]

What do you need by interconnecting all sites. Is it for reachability or do you want to extend layer 2.
I believe they all have internet connection? If so you can interconnect them using vpn L2L features capability of your routers if you have the correct ios.
If you want to extend layer 2 you can check gre, l2tpv3...

[techjess323]

Ok I will do that. Thank You!

[chukwuma]

Please what device would be placed at the centre of the three sites (to represent the MetroE) to help them to be able to communicate?

I am facing this same challenge here