A local area network, or LAN, is a collection of devices that are connected in one physical location, such as an office, school, or residential building. The size of a LAN can vary from a home network with only one use to a much larger network that accommodates thousands of users. A LAN is comprised of components such as cables, switches, and routers, all of which allow devices to connect to virtual servers.

A Virtual LAN (VLAN) acts in much the same way as traditional physical LANs. It is a group of devices created from one or more LANs. These devices are connected to a single network even if they aren’t connected to the same switch. Devices are linked not by geographical location but by a different basis. With a VLAN, a network can be linked between different floors or even different buildings.

VLANs are particularly useful for creating groups within a network. For example, different departments or project teams within a company can be grouped in different segments while still being part of the larger network.

Each segment can be separated from the rest of the LAN. This means that whenever a workspace within a segment sends a broadcast, only the devices within that segment will receive it. This removes needless traffic, which will otherwise slow down the network, which increases efficiency.

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What is VLAN (Virtual LAN)