3com 2000 TR Manual Do Utilizador

Página de 58
Virtual LANs (VLANS)
2-7
Virtual LANs (VLANS)
What is a VLAN
A VLAN is defined as a group of location- and topol-
ogy- independent devices that communicate as 
though they were on the same physical LAN. This 
means that they are not restricted by the hardware 
that physically connects them, and segments are 
defined by flexible user groups created by the user. 
For example, with VLANS, the user can define a net-
work according to:
Department Groups—A VLAN could be created for 
the Marketing Department, another VLAN for the 
Finance Department, and still another for the Devel-
opment Department.
Hierarchical Groups—A VLAN could be created for 
directors, another for managers, and still another for 
general staff.
Usage Groups—A VLAN could be created for Email 
users, another for multimedia users, and so on.
Advantages of VLAN
All 802 media and shared media support VLANs. In 
addition, implementing VLANs:
Eases the change of devices
Helps control broadcast traffic
Provides extra security
VLANs facilitate the administration of logical groups 
of stations that can communicate as though they 
were on the same LAN. VLANs also facilitate moves, 
adds, and changes of members of logical groups.
Traffic between VLANs is firewalled. This limits the 
propagation of multicast and broadcast traffic 
between VLANs. 
Each distinct VLAN is uniquely identified throughout 
the bridged LAN. A consistent representation of a 
VLAN exists across a VLAN fabric (including FE and 
ATM). This means that the shared VLAN knowledge 
of a particular packet remains the same as the packet 
travels from one point to another.
Port-Based Distribution
The switch uses a port-based approach to VLAN 
functionality. This approach allows bridges to classify 
all received tagged and untagged frames as belong-
ing to a particular VLAN. 
NOTE: 
In port-based VLAN operation, the VLAN clas-
sification of an untagged frame is implicitly deter-
mined and bases on the port of arrival of the frame. 
This facility requires association of a VLAN ID with 
each of the bridge’s ports. Only received frames lack-
ing an explicit VLAN ID are subject to this impilcit clas-
sification.
Using the port-based approach, a specific VLAN ID is 
associated with each bridge port. This VLAN ID, 
known as a Port VLAN Idendtifier (PVID), provides the 
VLAN classification for frames received through that 
port. This value may be manager configured.