Free CCNA | VLANs (Part 3) | Day 18 | CCNA 200-301 Complete Course

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Published on Nov 25, 2025 This response is partially generated with the help of AI. It may contain inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on inter-VLAN routing using Layer 3 switches, based on the content from the CCNA 200-301 course. Understanding VLANs and their configuration is essential for network management and optimization. This guide will walk you through the steps necessary to configure a native VLAN on a router, analyze network traffic with Wireshark, and set up inter-VLAN routing through Switch Virtual Interfaces (SVIs).

Step 1: Configure Native VLAN on a Router

To set up a native VLAN on a router, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Router Configuration

    • Connect to the router using a console cable.
    • Enter privileged EXEC mode by typing enable.
    • Access global configuration mode with configure terminal.
  2. Identify the Interface

    • Determine which interface you will configure as the native VLAN (e.g., GigabitEthernet0/1).
  3. Set the Native VLAN

    • Enter the interface configuration mode:
      interface GigabitEthernet0/1
      
    • Assign the native VLAN:
      switchport access vlan [VLAN_ID]
      
    • Replace [VLAN_ID] with the appropriate VLAN number.
  4. Save Configuration

    • Exit the interface configuration mode:
      exit
      
    • Save the running configuration to startup configuration:
      write memory
      

Step 2: Analyze Traffic with Wireshark

Wireshark is a powerful tool for analyzing network packets. Here's how to use it to analyze traffic between switches and routers:

  1. Capture Traffic

    • Start Wireshark and choose the appropriate network interface to capture traffic.
    • Apply a filter to focus on VLAN traffic, for example:
      vlan
      
  2. Examine Traffic from SW2 to R1

    • Start the capture while generating traffic between SW2 and R1.
    • Look for packets related to the native VLAN.
  3. Examine Traffic from R1 to SW2

    • Perform similar analysis for traffic going from R1 back to SW2.
    • Check for any anomalies or issues in the packet flow.

Step 3: Configure Inter-VLAN Routing via SVI

Setting up inter-VLAN routing involves configuring Switch Virtual Interfaces (SVIs). Follow these steps:

  1. Enable IP Routing

    • Access the switch configuration mode:
      configure terminal
      
    • Enable IP routing:
      ip routing
      
  2. Configure SVIs for Each VLAN

    • For each VLAN, create an SVI:
      interface vlan [VLAN_ID]
      ip address [IP_ADDRESS] [SUBNET_MASK]
      no shutdown
      
    • Replace [VLAN_ID], [IP_ADDRESS], and [SUBNET_MASK] with the respective values for each VLAN.
  3. Verify SVI Status

    • Ensure the SVIs are in an 'up/up' state. To check the status, use:
      show ip interface brief
      
  4. Test Routing Between VLANs

    • Use ping commands from devices in different VLANs to verify that inter-VLAN routing is functional.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to configure a native VLAN on a router, analyze traffic using Wireshark, and set up inter-VLAN routing with Switch Virtual Interfaces. Understanding these concepts is vital for effective network management. Next steps include practicing these configurations in a lab environment or using simulation software like Cisco Packet Tracer to reinforce your learning.