3Com SuperStack II Switch 3000 10/100, User Manual

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5
A
DVANCED
M
ANAGEMENT
Virtual LANs (VLANs)
Setting up Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) on
the Switch 3000 10/100 provide less time-consum-
ing network administration and more efficient net-
work operation.
The following sections explain more about the con-
cept of VLANs and explain how they can be imple-
mented on the Switch 3000 10/100.
What are VLANs?
A VLAN is defined as a group of location- and
topology-independent devices that communicate as
if they are on the same physical LAN. This means
that LAN segments are not restricted by the hard-
ware which physically connects them; the segments
are defined by flexible user groups that you create
using software.
With VLANs, you can define your network according
to:
■
Departmental
groups — For example, you can
have one VLAN for the Marketing department,
another for the Finance department, and
another for the Development department.
■
Hierarchical groups — For example, you can
have one VLAN for directors, another for manag-
ers, and another for general staff.
■
Usage Groups — For example, you can have
one VLAN for users of e-mail, and another for
users of multimedia.
Benefits of VLANs
Implementing VLANs on your network has three
main advantages:
■
It eases the change and movement of devices on
IP networks
■
It helps to control broadcast traffic
■
It provides extra security