VLANs

By tradition, this post is dedicated for weekly review of studying CCNA course. And this week we’ve learnt about VLANs. What are them and why do we need them? Let’s traverse through topic briefly⬇️ VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a feature in routers and switches that allows you to create multiple virtual local area networks on one physical network interface (Ethernet, Wi-Fi interface). VLANs are used to create a logical network topology that is independent of the physical topology.

VLAN usage examples
-The Union in a single network of computers, connected to different switches.
Let’s say you have computers that are connected to different switches, but they need to be combined into one network. We will merge some computers into VLAN 1 and others into VLAN 2. Thanks to the VLAN function, computers in each virtual network will work as if they are connected to the same switch. Computers from different VLAN 1 and VLAN 2 virtual networks will be invisible to each other.
-Separate computers connected to the same switch into different subnets.
-Separation of guest Wi-Fi network and enterprise Wi-Fi network.
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Advantages of using VLAN
-Flexible division of devices into groups
Typically, one VLAN corresponds to one subnet. Computers in different VLANs will be isolated from each other. You can also combine computers connected to different switches into a single virtual network.
-Reduce broadcast traffic on the network
Each VLAN represents a separate broadcast domain. Broadcast traffic will not be broadcast between different VLANs. If you configure the same VLAN on different switches, the ports on different switches will form a single broadcast domain.
-Increase network security and manageability
In a network divided into virtual subnets, it is convenient to apply security policies and rules for each VLAN. The policy will be applied to the entire subnet, not to an individual device.
-Reducing the amount of hardware and network cable
To create a new virtual local area network, you do not need to purchase a switch and lay a network cable. However, you should use more expensive VLAN-enabled managed switches.To create a new virtual local area network, you do not need to purchase a switch and lay a network cable. However, you should use more expensive VLAN-enabled managed switches