VLAN Operation
VLAN Operation and Network Applications 13-7
13.5 VLAN OPERATION
The following sections describe the operation of a VLAN switch and discuss the operations that a
VLAN switch performs in response to both normal and VLAN-originated network traffic.
13.5.1 Description
The 802.1Q VLAN operation is slightly different than the operation of traditional switched
networking systems. These differences are due to the importance of keeping track of each frame
and its VLAN association as it passes from switch to switch or from port to port within a switch.
13.5.2 VLAN Components
Before describing the operation of an 802.1Q VLAN, it is important to understand the basic
elements that are combined to make up an 802.1Q VLAN.
Stations
A station is any end unit that belongs to a network. In the vast majority of cases, stations are the
computers through which the users access the network.
Generic Attribute
Registration Protocol
(GARP)
A protocol used to propagate state information throughout a
switched network.
GARP VLAN
Registration Protocol
(GVRP)
A GARP application used to dynamically create VLANs across a
switched network.
GARP Multicast
Registration Protocol
(GMRP)
A GARP application that functions in a similar fashion as GVRP,
except that GMRP registers multicast addresses on ports to
control the flooding of multicast frames.
NOTE: GMRP is not supported in this device.
Table 13-1 VLAN Terms and Definitions (Continued)
VLAN Term Definition