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Figure 7-5. Selecting a Monitoring Port on a Switch
Using VLANS
Virtual LANs, or VLANs, are generally defined as broadcast domains created
with software rather than being a function of the hardware. They can be
viewed as a group of end nodes, possibly on different physical LAN
segments, that can communicate with each other.
As networks expand, more routers are needed to separate users into
broadcast domains. Latency degrades network performance, and is a special
problem for multimedia applications. Switches using VLANS create the same
division of the network into broadcast domains, but do not have the latency
problems of a router. Switches are also a more cost-effective solution. You
can create virtual LANs by assigning selected ports of your HP switch to a
VLAN.
The benefits of VLANs include:
Grouping users into logical networks for increased performance
Providing an easy, flexible, less costly way to modify logical groups in
changing environments
Preserving current investment in equipment and cabling
Allowing administrators to "fine tune" the network
Providing independence from the physical topology of the network
Managing Switches
Configuration
7-11
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