Sun Microsystems X1150A - Manual (Page 87)

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C H A P T E R
5
Configuring VLANs
This chapter explains VLANs in detail and provides configuration instructions and
examples.
■ VLANs: Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) are commonly used to split up
groups of network users into manageable broadcast domains, to create logical
segmentation of workgroups, and to enforce security policies among each logical
segment. With multiple VLANs on an adapter, a server with a single adapter can
have a logical presence on multiple IP subnets. By default, 128 VLANs can be
defined for each VLAN-aware adapter on your server. However, this number can
be increased by changing the system parameters.
If your network does not require multiple VLANs, you can use the default
configuration, in which case no further configuration is necessary.
Note – If you change any of the VLAN configuration parameters, you must reboot
the system before the changes will take effect. If you make changes and do not
reboot, you may experience configuration problems.
An Overview of VLANs
VLANs allow you to split your physical LAN into logical subparts, providing an
essential tool for increasing the efficiency and flexibility of your network.
VLANs are commonly used to separate groups of network users into manageable
broadcast domains, to create logical segmentation of workgroups, and to enforce
security policies among each logical segment. Each defined VLAN behaves as its
own separate network, with its traffic and broadcasts isolated from the others,
increasing the bandwidth efficiency within each logical group.