GE ML1200 instruction manual 10-4

VLAN CHAPTER 10: VLAN

802.1Q VLANs aren't limited to one switch. VLANs can span many switches. Sharing VLANs between switches is achieved by inserting a tag with a VLAN identifier (VID) into each frame. A VID must be assigned for each VLAN. By assigning the same VID to VLANs on many switches, one or more VLAN (broadcast domain) can be extended across a large network.

802.1Q-compliant switch ports, such as those on the MultiLink ML1200 Managed Field Switch, can be configured to transmit tagged or untagged frames. A tag field containing VLAN information can be inserted into an Ethernet frame. If a port has an 802.1Q- compliant device attached (such as another switch), these tagged frames can carry VLAN membership information between switches, thus letting a VLAN span multiple switches. Normally connections between switches can carry multiple VLAN information and this is called port trunking or 802.1Q trunks.

There is one important caveat: administrators must ensure ports with non-802.1Q- compliant devices attached are configured to transmit untagged frames. Many network interface cards such as those for PCs printers and other “dumb” switches are not 802.1Q- compliant. If they receive a tagged frame, they will not understand the VLAN tag and will drop the frame. In situations like these, its best to use port based VLANs for connecting to these devices.

Sometimes a port may want to listen to broadcasts across different VLANs or propagate the VLAN information on to other ports. This port must thus belong to multiple VLANs so that the broadcast information reaches the port accurately. If the port also wants to send broadcast traffic, the proper leave (sending out of information) and join rules (receiving information) have to be configured on the MultiLink ML1200 Managed Field Switch.

It is recommended to use IEEE 802.1q tagged based VLANs over port based VLANs because of there multi-vendor interoperability and capability of carrying the isolated tagged VLAN information when more than one switch is involved.

10–4 MULTILINK ML1200 MANAGED FIELD SWITCH – INSTRUCTION MANUAL