Why VLANs Matter
VLANs, or Virtual Local Area Networks, are a fundamental concept in modern switching. They allow you to divide a single physical network into multiple logical segments, improving security, efficiency, and control. By separating devices into VLANs, you reduce unnecessary broadcast traffic and isolate communication between departments or services within the same infrastructure.
VLAN Configuration and Management
In this topic, you’ll explore how VLANs are created and configured, how trunk links carry multiple VLANs across switches using 802.1Q encapsulation, and how protocols like DTP and VTP simplify VLAN management. You’ll also learn about Voice VLANs, which prioritize voice traffic to ensure call quality in enterprise environments.
Inter-VLAN Routing
Finally, you’ll discover how inter-VLAN routing allows devices in different VLANs to communicate, using techniques such as Router-on-a-Stick and Switch Virtual Interfaces (SVIs). Understanding these VLAN principles is essential before diving into more advanced subjects like Spanning Tree Protocol and EtherChannel, where network segmentation and redundancy work together to maintain efficient Layer 2 operations.