Configuring Vlans; Understanding Vlans - Allen-Bradley Stratix 5100 User Manual

Understanding VLANs

Configuring VLANs

This chapter describes how to configure your access point to operate with the
VLANs set up on your wired LAN in the following sections:
Topic
Understanding VLANs
Configuring VLANs
VLAN Configuration Example
A VLAN is a switched network that is logically segmented, by functions, project
teams, or applications rather than on a physical or geographical basis. For
example, all workstations and servers used by a particular workgroup team can be
connected to the same VLAN, regardless of their physical connections to the
network or the fact that they can be intermingled with other teams. You use
VLANs to reconfigure the network through software rather than physically
unplugging and moving devices or wires.
A VLAN can be thought of as a broadcast domain that exists within a defined set
of switches. A VLAN consists of a number of end systems, either hosts or
network equipment (such as bridges and routers), connected by a single bridging
domain. The bridging domain is supported on various pieces of network
equipment such as LAN switches that operate bridging protocols between them
with a separate group for each VLAN.
VLANs provide the segmentation services traditionally provided by routers in
LAN configurations. VLANs address scalability, security, and network
management. Consider several key issues when you design and build switched
LAN networks:
• LAN segmentation
• Security
• Broadcast control
• Performance
• Network management
• Communication between VLANs
Rockwell Automation Publication 1783-UM006A-EN-P - May 2014
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