What is a VLAN??

[RoadrunnerNBiggs]

Hey All,

Can anyone please explain to me what a VLAN is and when it is needed? And how is it different from a regular LAN? Can someone answer it through a business environment sense? If anyone has an explanation or knows a good video or site I can refer to I'd appreciate it.

 

[Lexluethar]

Google it.

Virtual LAN. It's a logical segmentation of network traffic. Lots of different use cases for a VLAN.

 

[iFargle]

Like Lexleuthar said... it's a logical segmentation of a LAN.
One example would be giving VOIP phones their own VLAN, one for computers, one for printers... Not only does it allow for a more organized structure, it actually helps with network flow. These Cisco VOIP phones we have where I work are insanely chatty and keeping them only talking to themselves (like they should be doing), its' best to put them on their own VLAN.