Defining VLANs

Implementing Best Practices for VLAN

Topologies
Issues in a Poorly Designed Network

• Unbounded failure
domains
• Large broadcast domains
• Large amount of
unknown MAC unicast
traffic
• Unbounded multicast
traffic
• Management and
support challenges
• Possible security
vulnerabilities
Scalable Network Addressing

IT, Human Resources Sales, Marketing Finance, Accounting

• Allocate IP address spaces in contiguous blocks.

• Allocate one IP subnet per VLAN.
 Interconnection Technologies

Technology Use
Fast Ethernet Connects end-user
devices to the access
layer switch
Gigabit Access to distribution
Ethernet switch, high-use servers

10-Gigabit High-speed switch to

Ethernet switch links, backbones

EtherChannel High-speed switch to

switch links, backbones
with redundancy
Determining Equipment and Cabling Needs

Each link provides

adequate bandwidth for
traffic aggregating over
that link.
VLANs and the Logical Network
Network Traffic Types

Traffic types to consider:

• Network management
• IP telephony
• Multicast
• Normal data
• Scavenger class
Traffic Path for IP Telephony

Consider complete traffic path when placing equipment and

configuring VLANs.
Traffic Path for IP Multicast

Consider complete traffic path when placing equipment and

configuring VLANs.
Summary

• Poorly designed networks can lead to large broadcast

domains.
• A hierarchical IP addressing scheme scales well in the
Campus Infrastructure module.
• The interconnection technology used depends on the amount
of traffic the link must carry.
• Select the best equipment, cabling, and interconnection
technologies to connect devices.
• VLANs should map to the IP hierarchy for the Campus
Infrastructure module.
• Separate voice and data VLANs are recommended.