Cisco Vlan Tips - How to configure VLAN on a Cisco Switch

How to configure VLAN on a Cisco Switch?

VLAN stands for virtual LAN and technically we can say, a VLAN is a broadcast domain created by switch. When managing a switch, the management domain is always VLAN 1, the default VLAN. All ports of switch are assigned to VLAN 1 by default. VLAN increase the performance of a network because it divide a network logically in different parts and limit the broadcasts.

Any member of VLAN 2 can not talk with any member of VLAN 3 without router but all the members of VLAN 2 and VLAN 3 can talk with other members within their VLANs.

This Lab will also help how VLANs can be used to separate traffic and reduce broadcast domains.

To create a VLAN, first enter global configuration mode to run the following commands.

Configuration to create VLAN 2

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal (enter in global configuration mode)

SwitchA(config)#vlan 2 (defining the vlan 2)

SwitchA(config)#vlan 2 name marketing (assigning the name marketing to vlan 2)

SwitchA(config)#exit (exit from vlan 2)

Configuration to create VLAN 3

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal (enter in global configuration mode)

SwitchA(config)#vlan 3 (defining the vlan 3)

SwitchA(config)#vlan 3 name management (assigning the name management to vlan 3)

SwitchA(config)#exit (exit from vlan 3)

Now assigning the ports 2 and 3 to VLAN 2, it must be done from the interface mode. Enter the following commands to add port 2 and 3 to VLAN 2.

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal (enter in global configuration mode)

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/2 (select the Ethernet 0 of port 2)

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 2 (allot the membership of vlan 2)

SwitchA(config-if)#exit (exit from interface 2)

Now adding port 3 to VLAN 2

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/3 (select the Ethernet 0 of port 3)

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 2 (allot the membership of vlan 2)

SwitchA(config-if)#exit (exit from interface 3)

Now assigning the ports 4 and 5 to VLAN 3, enter the following commands to add port 4 and 5 to VLAN 3.

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal (enter in global configuration mode)

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/4 (select the Ethernet 0 of port 4)

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 3 (allot the membership of vlan 3)

SwitchA(config-if)#exit (exit from interface 4)

Now adding port 5 to VLAN 3

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/5 (select the Ethernet 0 of port 5)

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 3 (allot the membership of vlan 3)

SwitchA(config-if)#exit (exit from interface 5)

To show the VLAN interface information, run the command show vlan.

How to configure VLAN on a Cisco Switch? VLAN stands for virtual LAN and technically we can say, a VLAN is a broadcast domain created by switch. When managing a switch, the management domain is always VLAN 1, the default VLAN. All ports of switch are assigned to VLAN 1 by default. VLAN increase the performance of a network because it divide a network logically in different parts and limit the broadcasts. Read More...

How to configure VTP Client and Server? VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) is the protocol that propagates the information about which VLANs exist from one switch to another switch. If VTP did not provide this information, VLANs would have to be created on all switches individually in the network. Read More...

How to configure Trunking between VLANs with 802.1q? Trunk link is used to carry the different VLANs traffic on a single link. There are two different protocols are used for Ethernet trunking, 802. 1q and ISL. Trunking change the formatting of the packets. Read More...

How to configure Trunking between VLANs with ISL? Trunking is a technique to carry different VLAN traffic using point to point link between two devices. ISL (InterSwitch Link) is a cisco proprietary protocol can work with Ethernet token ring and Fddi also. Trunking changes the formatting of the packets. Read More...