Switch chassis, modules and port naming

Skills you'll practise

• Distinguish a fixed-configuration switch from a modular chassis and name the main modules of a chassis
• Check redundancy, part number and airflow before hot-swapping a field-replaceable unit, and explain what removing each module affects
• Map an interface name, including a breakout sub-port, to the physical port on the faceplate
• Confirm a device's modules and serials from inventory output and its neighbors from LLDP rather than from appearance

Course outline

1. 1.Switch chassis, modules and port namingVideo · 2 min
2. 2.Fixed switches and modular chassisLesson · 16 min
3. 3.Field-replaceable units and what hot-swap really meansLesson · 17 min
4. 4.Port names, breakouts and confirming what's connectedLesson · 17 min
5. 5.Switch chassis, modules and port naming: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 18 questions
6. 6.Final exam8 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

• Cisco Nexus 9500 Series modular switch data sheet (redundant supervisors, line cards, fabric modules, system controllers, hot-swappable power supplies and fan trays)
• NVIDIA Cumulus Linux 5.15 user guide: Switch Port Attributes (breakout ports swp1s0–swp1s3, FEC modes, IEEE 802.3by 25G DAC classes CA-25G-L/S/N)
• NVIDIA Cumulus Linux 5.15 user guide: Link Layer Discovery Protocol (IEEE 802.1AB neighbor system name and port)
• IEEE 802.1AB: Station and Media Access Control Connectivity Discovery (LLDP)