About VLANs in general
A local area network (LAN) maps network devices together based on physical or
geographic location. A
virtual
local area network (VLAN) maps network devices together
on a basis
other
than physical or geographic location, for example, by department, type
of user, level of security clearance, or primary application. Traffic flowing between VLANs
must go through a router, such as an Orbi Pro router, just as if the VLANs were two
separate LANs.
A VLAN groups computers, servers, and other network devices so that they behave as
if they are all connected to the same network segment. For example, marketing personnel
might work in different rooms in an office building, or even in an adjacent building, yet
they can use the same marketing-only VLAN, allowing them to share resources and
network bandwidth as if they were connected to the same LAN. The resources of other
departments might be invisible to the users of the marketing VLAN, accessible to all,
or accessible only to specified individuals, depending on how you configure the VLAN.
VLANs have a number of advantages:
•
Facilitate network segmentation: Devices for users who communicate most
frequently with each other can be grouped into common VLANs, regardless of
physical location. Each group’s network traffic is contained largely within the VLAN,
which reduces traffic that is not relevant to the group and improves the efficiency
across the whole network.
•
Facilitate management: Changes such as adding or moving network devices can
be dealt with quickly and conveniently from a management interface rather than
from the wiring closet.
•
Provide increased performance: VLANs free up bandwidth by limiting
device-to-device and broadcast traffic throughout the network.
•
Ensure enhanced network security: VLANs create virtual boundaries that can be
traversed only through a router, allowing router-based security measures to be used
to restrict access to each VLAN.
About VLANs on the router
The router supports virtual local area network (VLAN) management. VLAN management
enables you to limit user access by network and increase security through data
separation. You can further increase security through client isolation and network
isolation.
The following table shows the four preset VLAN profiles on the router.
User Manual
76
Manage the VLANs
Orbi Pro WiFi 6 AX6000 Router Model SXR80 and Orbi Pro WiFi 6 AX6000 Satellite Model SXS80
