Un VLAN (prescurtare de la virtual local area netwrok, n romn reea local virtual) este un grup de gazde ce pot comunica,

indiferent de locaia lor fizic, ca i cum s-ar afla n acelai domeniu de difuzare. Un VLAN are aceleai atribute ca o reea local fizic, dar permite staiilor s nu fie legate n acelai switch de reea. Apartenena la un VLAN poate fi configurat din software.

A virtual LAN, commonly known as a VLAN, is a group of hosts with a common set of requirements that communicate as if they were attached to the same broadcast domain, regardless of their physical location. A VLAN has the same attributes as a physical LAN, but it allows for end stations to be grouped together even if they are not located on the same network switch. Network reconfiguration can be done through software instead of physically relocating devices

VLAN vs LAN VLAN and LAN are two terms used frequently in the networking field. LAN is abbreviated as Local Area Network is a computer network to which a large number of computers and other peripheral devices are connected within a geographical area. VLAN is an implementation of a private subset of a LAN in which the computers interact with each other as if they are connected to the same broadcast domain irrespective of their physical locations. The attributes of both LAN and VLAN are the same; however, the end stations are always combined together regardless of the location. The VLAN is used to create multiple broadcast domains in a switch. This can be explained with a simple illustration. Say, for instance, there is one 48-port layer 2 switch. If two separate VLANs are created on ports 1 to 24 and 25 to 48, a single 48-port layer 2 switch can be made to act like two different switches. This is one of the biggest advantages of using VLAN as you dont have to use two different switches for different networks. Different VLANs can be created for each segment using just one big switch. Suppose in a company users working from different floors of the same building can be connected to the same LAN virtually. The VLANs can help to minimize traffic when compared to traditional LANs. For instance, if the broadcast traffic is meant for ten users, they can be placed on ten different VLANs which will in turn reduce the traffic. The use of VLANs over traditional LANs can bring down the cost as the VLANs eliminate the need for expensive routers. In LANs, the routers process the incoming traffic. With the increasing traffic volume, latency gets generated which in turn results in poor performance. With VLANs, the need for routers is reduced as VLANs can create broadcast domains through switches instead of routers.

LANs require physical administration as the location of the user changes, the need for recabling, addressing the new station, reconfiguration of routers and hubs arises. The mobility of the users in a network results in network costs. Whereas if a user is moved within a VLAN, the administrative work can be eliminated as there is no need for router reconfiguration. Data broadcast on a VLAN is safe when compared to traditional LANs as sensitive data can be accessed only the users who are on a VLAN. Summary: 1. VLAN delivers better performance when compared to traditional LANs. 2. VLAN requires less network administration work when compared to LANs. 3. VLAN helps to reduce costs by eliminating the need for expensive routers unlike LANs. 4. Data transmission on VLAN is safe when compared to traditional LANs. 5. VLANs can help reduce traffic as it reduces the latency and creates broadcast domains through switches rather than routers unlike in traditional LANs.

Read more: Difference Between VLAN and LAN | Difference Between | VLAN vs LAN http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/internet/difference-between-vlan-andlan/#ixzz24p8Am45t

This is from Chapter 1 of ICND2 OCG. Every switch port is a separate collision domain and a single broadcast domain. By creating VLANs we create multiple broadcast domains. Therefore, answer D is correct, A VLAN breaks up a Layer 2 broadcast domain.

Hi,

I think Switch by default works in L2 becuase of this I exclude all L3 possibilities.

My thought is this: 1. Each port of your switch is a collision domain 2. Each vlan of your switch is a broadcast domain

Hi,

as VLAN is a L2 concept I would definitively rule out A and B then we're left with C and D: what is the primary purpose of VLANs, for me afaik it is to break up a large broadcast domain into smaller broadcast domains so I would go for D.

Vlans are layer 2 constructs requiring layer 3 interfaces for inter vlan communication. For example if you had a 3 vlan network,. It would be the virtualized version of 3 switches, each in a separate ip address space interconnected with a router with three interfaces (each switch connected to a different ethernet port on the router). When converted back to a modern network, that might be three switches (more or less as req'd), trunked together. Any port could be on any vlan. Vlan information is carried by the trunks to some device with layer 3 routing capability (layer 3 switch, router, potentially a firewall)

I think you may have been the victim of some confusing documentation. VLANs are Layer 2 constructs. Each VLAN would typically have unique Layer three addressing or no layer 3 addressing at all (some specific purpose maybe). If the addressing were on the same subnet but unique addresses, the VLANs could theoretically be cross connected with a cross over cable between a port in each vlan (some switches would complain). This would make very little sense, but is an illustration. Typically the layer 3 addressing (IP) is unique per vlan. In this case for a packet to pass from one VLAN to another, a packet would normally flow through some Layer 3 device. Many modern switches function at layer 3 and have logical interfaces to perform this function. Simply place one appropriately addressed logical routed interface in each vlan (interface vlan x), enable routing and the Layer 3 switch will handle inter vlan traffic. These logical vlan interfaces have IP addressing assigned to them to provide this necessary conduit between multiple VLANs. Hope this helps.