VLAN - Virtual Local Area Network

VLAN — Virtual Local Area Network
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a is a subnetwork which can group together collections of devices that are connected to separate physical LANs.
VLANs allow network administrators to partition a single switched network in order to keep network applications separate despite being connected to the same physical network, without requiring new cabling or major changes in the current network infrastructure.
- In this context virtual refers to a physical object recreated and altered by additional logic, whereas a LAN is a group of computers and devices that share a communications line or wireless link to a server within the same geographical area.
- VLANs allow network administrators to group hosts together that are connected to different network switches.
- Since VLAN access can be configured through software, it can greatly simplify network design and deployment, preventing node relocation or data link rewiring.
- An application example would be the separation of traffic within a business based on individual users, groups of users, roles, or traffic requirements (e.g. low-priority traffic prevented from impinging on the rest of the network’s functioning).
- Simpler equipment might only be able to partition each physical port, while more sophisticated devices can mark frames through VLAN tagging, allowing a single trunk to be used to transport data for multiple VLANs.
- Since VLANs share bandwidth, a VLAN trunk can use link aggregation and quality-of-service prioritization (or both) to route data efficiently.
How does VLAN work?
- By applying tags to network frames and handling these tags in networking systems, a VLAN partitions and isolates a broadcast domain in a computer network at the data link layer (OSI layer 2).
- A VLAN physically looks like and functions on a single network but acts as if it is split between separate networks, allowing to match the functional and security requirements of the systems without making physical adjustments.
- In this way, devices that must be kept separate can share the cabling of a physical network and still be kept apart. This brings advantages in terms of simplicity, security, traffic management, and economy.

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Network Redundancy
- HSR — High-availability Seamless Redundancy
- PRP — Parallel Redundancy Protocol
- Ethernet
- MAC — Medium Access Control
- VLAN — Virtual Local Area Network
- IEC 62439–3
- Network Redundancy
HSR (High-availability Seamless Redundancy) is a redundancy protocol for Ethernet networks requiring short reaction times and high availability, as for example protection systems at electrical substations.
Unlike common redundancy protocols like RSTP, HSR reacts to any network component failures seamlessly (without recovery time) and is invisible to the application.
PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) is a redundancy protocol for Ethernet based networks requiring high availability and a short switchover time, as for example protection systems at electrical substations.
Unlike common redundancy protocols like RSTP, PRP reacts to any network component failures seamlessly (without recovery time) and is invisible to the application.
Ethernet is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN) and also wide area networks (WAN).
Over time, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies by providing higher bit rates, a greater number of nodes, and longer link distances and decent backward compatibility.
The Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayer provides flow control and multiplexing for the transmission medium to control the hardware that interacts with the wired, optic and also wireless transmission media in the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN data link layer.
The MAC is accompanied by the LLC sublayer, which provides flow control and multiplexing for the logical link (i.e. EtherType, 802.1Q VLAN tag etc.)
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a is a subnetwork which can group together collections of devices that are connected to separate physical LANs.
VLANs allow network administrators to partition a single switched network in order to keep network applications separate despite being connected to the same physical network, without requiring new cabling or major changes in the current network infrastructure.
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Network redundancy is a method to ensure network availability, providing failover when a device or network path fails or becomes unavailable.
Redundancy is usually achieved by installing additional or alternative network devices, communication media or equipment within the network infrastructure
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