![Mastering Layer 2 Troubleshooting Commands: A Complete Guide with CLI & EVE-NG Labs [CCNP Enterprise]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mastering-Layer-2-Troubleshooting-Commands_networkjourney.png)
Today we’re diving into something every network engineer must master—Layer 2 Troubleshooting. Whether you’re preparing for CCNP or resolving critical enterprise network issues, knowing the right CLI commands can make all the difference. In this post, we’ll walk through key Layer 2 concepts, explore essential […]
![Storm Control Configuration on Cisco Switches: Preventing Broadcast & Multicast Floods. [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Storm-Control-Configuration-on-Cisco-Switches_networkjourney.png)
If you’ve ever seen your network grind to a halt because of broadcast storms or weird traffic floods, I totally feel your pain. Early in my career, I was once called into a client’s office where the entire network had slowed to a crawl. The […]
![Mastering PortFast, BPDU Guard & Loop Guard: STP Protection Techniques Explained with Lab & CLI. [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mastering-PortFast-BPDU-Guard-Loop-Guard_networkjourney.png)
If you’ve ever faced STP loops or mystery link flaps in your switching network, you know how frustrating it can be. Early in my networking career, I once spent hours chasing down a looping issue—only to find that someone plugged in a cable between two […]
![LACP vs PAgP: Cisco EtherChannel Types Explained with CLI & EVE-NG Lab [2025]. [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/LACP-vs-PAgP_-Cisco-EtherChannel-Types-Explained-with-CLI_networkjourney.png)
One of the most common things I hear from learners in my CCNA/CCNP classes is: Why does EtherChannel break sometimes even though the cables are good? Well, the answer often lies in how you bundle those links—whether it’s LACP or PAgP, manual or dynamic. This […]
![STP Root Bridge Election Explained: Priority, MAC & CLI Examples [2025]. [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/STP-Root-Bridge-Election-Explained_Priority_MAC_CLI-Examples_networkjourney.png)
When I first started learning about Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), I thought, “Why does my switch block a link even when there’s no loop?” The answer: Root Bridge Election. Most learners get tripped up trying to remember how STP elects the root bridge and why […]
![STP vs RSTP vs MST: Full Comparison with Real Labs & CLI [2025] [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/STP-vs-RSTP-vs-MST_networkjourney-1.png)
If you’ve ever sat in front of your topology wondering “Why is one link blocking? Why did convergence take so long?”, you’ve already met the mysterious world of Spanning Tree Protocols. STP, RSTP, and MST sound intimidating at first—but once you get hands-on and understand […]
![Native VLAN Mismatch Detection_The Hidden Threat to Your Network [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Native-VLAN-Mismatch-Detection_networkjourney.png)
It’s subtle, often goes unnoticed, and yet can silently disrupt your network, especially when dealing with trunk links. I created this article so you don’t just memorize it for your CCNA or CCNP—you understand it, simulate it, and troubleshoot it like a real-world engineer. Let’s […]
![Are Hypervisors Replacing Bare Metal in 2025? Here’s What You Should Know. [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Are-Hypervisors-Replacing-Bare-Metal-in-2025_networkjourney.png)
Today we’re diving into a topic I often discuss with students, clients, and fellow engineers — should you deploy your network on a hypervisor or go bare metal? When I started building labs and handling client deployments, I thought bare metal was always the “pro” […]
![Cisco LISP Protocol Explained with CLI, Labs, and Use Cases. [CCNP ENTERPRISE]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cisco-LISP-Protocol-Explained-with-CLI_Labs_and-Use-Cases_networkjourney.png)
If you’ve been diving into advanced routing or enterprise-level WAN designs, you may have come across a fascinating protocol called LISP (Locator/ID Separation Protocol). When I first encountered LISP while working on inter-DC communication and traffic engineering use cases, I realized it offered something most […]
![Why Is VXLAN Better Than VLAN in Large-Scale Networks? [CCNP Enterprise]](https://networkjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Why-Is-VXLAN-Better-Than-VLAN-in-Large-Scale-Networks_networkjourney.png)
If you’ve ever wondered how data centers manage large-scale Layer 2 networks over Layer 3 infrastructure, today’s topic will blow your mind — VXLAN. I still remember my first experience with VXLAN during a large DC project, where VLANs just couldn’t scale anymore. That’s when […]
