Moxa Technologies Moxa EtherDevice Switch EDS-405A - Manual (Page 56)

EDS-408A/405A Series User’s Manual Featured Functions
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Benefits of VLANs
The main benefit of VLANs is that they provide a network segmentation system that is far more
flexible than traditional networks. Using VLANs also provides you with three other benefits:
y VLANs ease the relocation of devices on networks: With traditional networks, network
administrators spend much of their time dealing with moves and changes. If users move to a
different subnetwork, the addresses of each host must be updated manually. With a VLAN
setup, if a host on VLAN Marketing, for example, is moved to a port in another part of the
network, and retains its original subnet membership, you only need to specify that the new
port is on VLAN Marketing. You do not need to do any re-cabling.
y VLANs provide extra security: Devices within each VLAN can only communicate with
other devices on the same VLAN. If a device on VLAN Marketing needs to communicate
with devices on VLAN Finance, the traffic must pass through a routing device or Layer 3
switch.
y VLANs help control traffic: With traditional networks, congestion can be caused by
broadcast traffic that is directed to all network devices, regardless of whether or not they need
it. VLANs increase the efficiency of your network because each VLAN can be set up to
contain only those devices that need to communicate with each other.
Using Virtual LANs
Port-based VLANs and the Moxa EtherDevice Switch
The EDS-408A/405A supports Port-based VLAN. When using this function, you must first define
which ports should join the VLAN. Once set, devices can be moved around the network without
affecting to which VLAN the device is connected.
For example, to separate port 2 and port 3 to different groups due to security issues, click VLAN
Settings and then select Port-Based VLAN. For this example, place port 2 on VLAN 1 and port 3
on VLAN 2. Ports 2 and 3 will not be able to communicate with each other, even though they are
on the same switch.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Switch A
Switch B
Backbone connects multiple switches
Department 1
VLAN 1 Department 2
VLAN 2
Department 3
VLAN 3