802.1q - VLANs

Virtual LAN (VLAN)

VLANS are a way for multiple departmental networks to exist using only one physical network. This enables the IT Department to create multiple segregated networks without allowing them to interefere with eachother. By regulating the access to departmental information, security and efficiency will be greatly upgraded.

VLANs reduce hardware requirements by logically separating networks, not physically separating networks. An entire office can be connected to the same switching scheme, but VLAN tagging will segregate them into appropriate departments. This also reduces management and overhead by eliminating the need for subnetworks.

802.1q allows VLANs to communicate with eachother within a network using layer 3 switching.

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