Virtual LAN (VLAN)

Christopher Lee
Leo Putra Mardjuki
Table of Contents
Introduction
Two approaches to designing VLAN:
Single-Switch VLAN
The four layers of VLANs
Multi-Switch VLAN
Operating Characteristics
Advantages
Disadvantages
Conclusion
References
Questions time
Introduction
VLAN stands for Virtual Local Area
Network.
viewed as a group of devices on different
physical LAN
can communicate with each other as if they
were all on the same physical LAN
Configured through software rather than
hardware
extremely flexible.

Single-Switch VLAN
VLAN operates only
inside one switch
There are different
types of Single-Switch
VLAN:
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 4

Layer-1 VLANs
Port-based VLANs
Uses the physical layer port
number on the front of the
VLAN switch to assign
computers to VLAN segments
Network manager must know
which computer is connected
to which port
Advantage
Configuration is fairly
straightforward
Layer-2 VLANs
MAC-based VLANs
Uses the data link layer
address to form the VLANs
Advantage:
Simpler to manage when
computers are moved
NO configuration is needed
Layer-3 VLANs
IP-based VLANs
Uses the network layer
address to form the VLANs
Compared to Layer-2:
Reduce the time spent
reconfiguring the network
A bit slower at processing
each message
Advantage:
Can manually input/change
IP addresses
NO configuration is needed

Layer-4 VLANs
Application-based VLANs
Uses the type of application indicated
by port number in the TCP packet in
combination with the network layer
addresses to form the VLAN groups
Very complex process
Network manager must decide on
variety of different factors in forming
the VLANs
Advantage:
Very precise allocation of network
capacity
Multi-Switch VLAN
Multi-Switch VLAN cont.
Works the same way as a Single-Switch
VLAN, except:
Several switches are used
Switches must be able to send packets
among themselves in a way that
identifies the VLAN to which the packet
belongs.
Advantages
Increased performance
Improved manageability
Physical independence
Increased Security Option
Disadvantages
Costly
Software based
Human labor to program
Depending on variety switches
Management complexity
Conclusion
Reduce the cost of dealing with moves
and changes
For organizations,
seen as an added benefit

References
"VLAN Information." UCDavis Network 21. 06 Mar. 2006
<http://net21.ucdavis.edu/newvlan.htm>.

"VLAN." 06 Mar. 2006
<http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/VLAN.html>.

"Answers.com." Virtual LAN. 06 Mar. 2006
<http://www.answers.com/topic/virtual-lan?method=6>.

"Network World Research Center." VLAN (Virtual LAN). 06 Mar. 2006
<http://www.networkworld.com/details/471.html>.

"The Virtual LAN Technology Report." 1996. decisys. 06 Mar. 2006
<http://www.3com.com/other/pdfs/solutions/en_US/20037401.pdf>.

"Virtual LAN." Wikipedia The Free Online Encyclopedia. 02 Mar. 2006.
06 Mar. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLAN>.
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