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CBT Nuggets

Layer 2 CCIE Training: VLAN, EtherChannel & STP Tutorial Online Training

This Layer 2 CCIE training prepares network engineers to manage advanced VLAN topics, including trunking, VLAN databases, and VTP. Learn to implement LACP, EtherChannel Misconfiguration Guard, and choose between PVST+, Rapid PVST+, and MST. Ideal for advanced configurations and practical skills in deploying and troubleshooting Layer 2 technologies in enterprise networks. This course includes virtual labs designed by by 2x CCIE Jeff Kish, and is an excellent resource to help you study for the Layer 2 portion of the CCIE exam.

Updated February 2024

44Skills
208Videos
1Virtual Labs
37h 43mTotal
208 videos1 labs37h 43m

Who This Course Is For

This CCIE training is designed for expert-level network engineers and architects with 5–7 years of experience who are responsible for designing and maintaining large-scale Cisco enterprise environments.

Skills Your Team Will Gain

  • Deploying VLAN technologies including private VLANs and advanced trunking topologies
  • Mastering Spanning Tree through PVST+, Rapid-PVST+, and MST region configuration
  • Implementing STP protection using BPDU guard, Root guard, and Loop guard
  • Configuring EtherChannels with LACP signaling, priorities, and advanced load-balancing
  • Tuning network convergence by optimizing STP timers and bridge assurance features
  • Managing switch infrastructure including L2 MTU, MAC learning, and NTP/PTP synchronization

Course Curriculum

  • Perform Switch AdministrationFree54m
  • Premium skill.Explain L2 MTU49m
  • Premium skill.Deploy L2 Protocols60m
  • Premium skill.Deploy VLAN Technologies1h 9m
  • Premium skill.Configure VLAN Trunking1h 2m
  • Premium skill.Configure Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP)46m
  • Premium skill.Configure VLAN Trunking Topologies57m
  • Premium skill.Configure Static Etherchannels1h 3m
  • Premium skill.Configure LACP Etherchannels50m
  • Premium skill.Configure LACP Priorities and Signaling58m
  • Premium skill.Configure Etherchannel Load-Balancing49m
  • Premium skill.Implement Private VLANs53m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Lab Practice: L2 Infrastructure 146m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Lab Practice: L2 Infrastructure 257m
  • Premium skill.Explain 802.1D Spanning-Tree Protocol50m
  • Premium skill.Explain PVST+ Operation54m
  • Premium skill.Explain PVST+ Convergence54m
  • Premium skill.Calculate STP Blocking52m
  • Premium skill.Configure STP Blocking44m
  • Premium skill.Tune STP Timers52m
  • Premium skill.Identify STP Topologies44m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Lab Practice: STP Ports and Priorities46m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Lab Practice: STP Timers and Tuning50m
  • Premium skill.Configure L2 Protection Mechanisms1h 1m
  • Premium skill.Explain Cisco STP Enhancements51m
  • Premium skill.Configure Cisco STP Enhancements47m
  • Premium skill.Configure STP Topology Protection Mechanisms58m
  • Premium skill.Configure STP Loop Protection Mechanisms51m
  • Premium skill.Configure STP Bridge Assurance45m
  • Premium skill.Explain NTP and PTP45m
  • Premium skill.Explain Rapid-PVST+ Mechanisms53m
  • Premium skill.Explain Rapid-PVST+ Roles and Topology Changes47m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Lab Practice: Rapid-PVST+46m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Lab Practice: STP Features46m
  • Premium skill.Explain Multiple Spanning-Tree (MST)48m
  • Premium skill.Configure MST Regions54m
  • Premium skill.Configure STP Compatibility56m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Practice Lab: MST Topologies46m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Practice Lab: MST Regions46m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Practice Lab: STP Compatibility45m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Practice Lab: L2 Review 150m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Practice Lab: L2 Review 250m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Practice Lab: L2 Review 350m
  • Premium skill.CCIE Practice Lab: L2 Review 451m

For IT leaders

What IT leaders need to know before assigning this course

Enterprise Layer 2 changes can create high-impact risk: a bad trunk, EtherChannel mismatch, or STP topology mistake can affect large parts of the network. This expert Cisco course is best assigned to senior Network Engineers, Team Leads, or architects who already have strong switching experience and need deeper CCIE-level practice with VLANs, trunking, EtherChannel, PVST+, Rapid PVST+, MST, and Layer 2 protection mechanisms.

The listed curriculum is 34+ hours before review time, so IT Directors should plan this as a multi-week enablement path rather than a quick onboarding module. It fits teams standardizing advanced switching practices, preparing engineers for CCIE-level responsibilities, or building internal reference knowledge for complex Layer 2 environments. Change management matters: learners should align course practice with existing design standards before applying configurations in production.

CBT Nuggets Playlists can sequence the VLAN, EtherChannel, and STP sections by role, while Team Reporting helps Training Managers verify progress through the CCIE lab-practice modules.

Team Impact

How this training helps your team succeed

IT teams complete this training to strengthen the Layer 2 skills that protect enterprise switching environments from avoidable outages and slow troubleshooting cycles.

  • Safer VLAN and trunk deployments: Engineers practice VLAN databases, trunking, DTP, and trunking topologies so changes are easier to validate before production rollout.
  • More reliable link aggregation: Teams learn static EtherChannel, LACP, LACP priorities/signaling, load-balancing, and misconfiguration concerns that can affect bundled links.
  • Better STP control: Engineers work through 802.1D, PVST+, Rapid PVST+, MST, STP blocking, timers, convergence, and topology identification to reduce loop and reconvergence risk.
  • Stronger Layer 2 resilience: The course covers private VLANs, Cisco STP enhancements, topology and loop protection mechanisms, bridge assurance, and STP compatibility for complex environments.

After completion

Knowledge & ability your team will gain

Knowledge

  • How VLANs, VLAN databases, trunking, DTP, and private VLANs operate in Cisco Layer 2 networks.
  • How static EtherChannel and LACP differ, including priorities, signaling, and load-balancing considerations.
  • How 802.1D STP, PVST+, Rapid PVST+, and MST behave during topology changes and convergence.
  • How STP timers, port roles, blocking behavior, and compatibility affect network stability.
  • How Cisco Layer 2 protection features, including topology protection, loop protection, and bridge assurance, support resilient switching designs.

Ability

  • Configure VLAN technologies and VLAN trunking topologies for enterprise switching environments.
  • Build and tune EtherChannels using static configuration and LACP.
  • Analyze STP topologies and calculate or configure expected blocking behavior.
  • Tune STP timers and priorities in lab scenarios aligned to CCIE-level practice.
  • Configure MST regions and evaluate compatibility with other spanning-tree modes.

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