18
CHAPTER 2
Intel Express 460T Standalone Switch Users Guide
MAC-Based VLANs
Membership in this type of VLAN is based on assigning the MAC address
of a device to a VLAN. The advantage to this type of VLAN is that even if
users relocate, they remain on the same VLAN as long as they stay
connected to the same switch. The 460T switch supports up to 12 MAC-
based VLANs.
The disadvantage is that the initial configuration and subsequent
administration of a MAC-based VLAN can be challenging because the
system administrator needs to maintain lists of MAC addresses and enter
those addresses into the switch. Another disadvantage is that MAC-based
VLANs cannot span switches.
MAC-based VLANs, as designed on the 460T Switch, are intended to limit
broadcast and multicast traffic over the network. The switch relies on limiting
broadcast traffic to constrain network visibility of network applications
(such as TCP/IP) that rely on broadcasts (such as ARP) for station
discovery.
The 460T MAC-based VLANs are not intended to be a secure solution. For
secure VLANs use either port-based or IEEE 802.1Q-based VLANs.