Extreme Networks ExtremeWare XOS 10.1, Manual

Page: 18 / 256

18 ExtremeWare XOS 10.1 Concepts Guide
ExtremeWare XOS Overview
Virtual LANs (VLANs)
ExtremeWare XOS has a VLAN feature that enables you to construct your broadcast domains without
being restricted by physical connections. A VLAN is a group of location- and topology-independent
devices that communicate as if they were on the same physical local area network (LAN).
Implementing VLANs on your network has the following three advantages:
• Help to control broadcast traffic. If a device in VLAN Marketing transmits a broadcast frame, only
VLAN Marketing devices receive the frame.
• Provide extra security. Devices in VLAN Marketing can only communicate with devices on VLAN
Sales using routing services.
• Ease the change and movement of devices on networks.
NOTE
For more information on VLANs, see Chapter 5.
Spanning Tree Protocol
The switch supports the IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), which is a bridge-based mechanism
for providing fault tolerance on networks. STP enables you to implement parallel paths for network
traffic, and ensure that redundant paths are:
• Disabled when the main paths are operational.
• Enabled if the main traffic paths fail.
A single spanning tree can span multiple VLANs.
NOTE
For more information on STP, see Chapter 10.
Quality of Service
ExtremeWare XOS has Policy-Based Quality of Service (QoS) features that enable you to specify service
levels for different traffic groups. By default, all traffic is assigned the normal QoS policy profile. If
needed, you can customize other QoS policies and apply them to different traffic types so that they have
different guaranteed minimum bandwidth, maximum bandwidth, and priority.
NOTE
For more information on Quality of Service, see Chapter 7.
Unicast Routing
The switch can route IP traffic between the VLANs that are configured as virtual router interfaces. Both
dynamic and static IP routes are maintained in the routing table. The following routing protocols are
supported:
• RIP version 1
• RIP version 2