D-Link DES-1316 [8/53] Vlan virtual local area network

transmitting among connected Ethernet or Fast Ethernet LAN

segments.

Switching is a cost-effective way of increasing the total network

capacity available to users on a local area network. A switch increases

capacity and decreases network loading by dividing a local area

network into different segments, which do not compete with each

other for network transmission capacity.

The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the

individual segments. The switch, without interfering with any other

segments, automatically forwards traffic that needs to go from one

segment to another. By doing this the total network capacity is

multiplied, while still maintaining the same network cabling and

adapter cards.

Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the

previous generation of network bridges, which were characterized by

higher latencies. Routers have also been used to segment local area

networks, but the cost of a router, the setup and maintenance required

make routers relatively impractical. Today switches are an ideal

solution to most kinds of local area network congestion problems.

VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)

A VLAN is a group of end-stations that are not constrained by their

physical location and can communicate as if a common broadcast

domain, a LAN. The primary utility of using VLAN is to reduce

latency and the need for routers, using faster switching instead. Other

VLAN utilities include:

Security: Security is increased with the reduction of opportunity in

eavesdropping on a broadcast network because data will be switched

to only those confidential users within the VLAN.