# Virtual LANs (IEEE 802.1Q)

A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a collection of devices that communicate as if they were on the same physical LAN. Any set of ports (including all ports on the switch) can be considered a VLAN.

LAN segments are not restricted by the hardware that physically connects them. The segments are defined by flexible user groups you create with the command-line interface.

| VLANs offer the ability to group computers together into logical workgroups. This can simplify network administration when connecting clients to servers that are geographically dispersed across the building, campus, or enterprise network. Typically, VLANs consist of co-workers within the same department but in different locations, groups of users running the same network protocol, or a cross-functional team working on a joint project.

By using VLANs on your network, you can:

- Improve network performance

- Limit broadcast storms

- Improve LAN configuration updates (adds, moves, and changes)

- Minimize security problems

- Ease your management task

## Other Considerations

- Intel® PRO/10GbE Server Adapters support IEEE 802.1Q VLANs on the operating systems listed in the Table of Contents.

- To set up IEEE VLAN membership (multiple VLANs), the adapter must be attached to a switch with IEEE 802.1Q VLAN capability.

- VLANs can co-exist with teaming (if the adapter supports both). If you do this, the team must be defined first, then you can set up your VLAN.

| CAUTION: When using IEEE 802 VLANs, settings must match between the switch and those adapters using the VLANs.

`Last modified on 7/22/04 8:24a Revision 1`