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VLAN Full Form

VLAN Full Form

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jan 23, 2023 04:28 PM IST

The full form of VLAN is Virtual Local Area Network. VLAN stands for virtual local area network. VLAN requires a manager for the subdivision of a LAN into different domain broadcasts. This device basically allows two or more devices in multiple networks to be combined into a single logical network. VLANs are very compatible to manage everything in an easy way and also create different sub-networks in small sizes. If the VLANs are not available then the central processing unit (CPU )will get overhead and also there would be a lack of network security. This will happen because, in absence of VLAN, there would be a broadcast through the host for all the devices.

History of VLAN

VLAN is an upgraded version of Ethernet. There are points below show the development of Ethernet:

  • W. David Sincoskie discovered Ethernet. He took 4 years from 1981 to 1984.

  • Afterwards, Ethernet VLAN was discovered as the first model in 1998.

  • Earlier Ethernet was considered the fastest network which gives a speed of 10 Mbps(Megabits per second). In this broadcast network, no option was available for connecting multiple networks of Ethernet.

  • Connecting some networks was possible through the IP(Internet Protocol) routing process but it was too slow and costly.

  • Ethernet VLAN was developed in 1998.

Features of VLAN

  • VLAN is able to span on multiple switches.

  • Terminals of VLAN can easily relocate.

  • VLAN reduces security risk as the number of copies received through frames by hosts can create switches of the flood.

  • It holds private and sensitive data by creating separate hosts for separate VLANs and it has improved security.

Benefits of VLAN

  • Network administration adds more security to the field of network communication.

  • VLAN made expansion and relocation to network devices easier.

  • They also reduced network trafficking and with this, it gives better performance.

  • Earlier expensive routers were required to make communication in the devices but VLAN removes this kind of cost. Therefore it reduces total cost.

  • VLAN provides every broadcast network with a different domain. So that anonymous groups cannot obtain or view others' confidential data and information.

Limitations of VLAN

  • As VLAN can be connected to many devices through a single logical network, if one device is affected by a virus then other devices will also get affected.

  • It creates complexity in managing various larger networks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What VLAN?

This device basically allows two or more devices of multiple networks to be combined into a single logical network. VLAN required the subdivision to perform various domains. This sub-division is called LAN.

2. Which device is used earlier in place of the VLAN?

Earlier Ethernet was considered the fastest network which gives a speed of 10 Mbps. In this broadcast network, no option was available for connecting multiple networks of Ethernet.

3. State any three features of VLAN.

Three features of VLAN are: 

  • Terminals of VLAN can easily relocate.

  • VLAN reduces the problem of the overflow of data for host channels.

  • It holds data privately, securely and separately which are coming from different host channels.

4. State any two advantages of VLAN.

Two advantages are:

  • Earlier expensive routers were required to make communication in the devices but VLAN removes this kind of cost. Therefore it reduces total cost.

  • VLAN provides every broadcast network with a different domain. So that anonymous groups cannot able to obtain or view others' confidential data and information.

5. State any two disadvantages of VLAN.

Two disadvantages are:

  • As VLAN can be connected to many devices through a single logical network, if one device is affected by a virus then other devices will also get affected.

  • It creates complexity in managing various larger networks.

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