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Networking Intermediate

What is VLAN (Virtual LAN)?

A logical grouping of network devices that creates separate broadcast domains on the same physical network infrastructure.

VLANs segment a physical network into multiple logical networks. Devices in the same VLAN can communicate directly, while VLAN-to-VLAN traffic requires routing. This improves security, reduces broadcast traffic, and simplifies network management.

VLANs use 802.1Q tagging to identify which VLAN a frame belongs to. Common uses include separating departments (HR, Engineering), isolating guest Wi-Fi, and segmenting IoT devices from main networks.

Related Terms

NAT (Network Address Translation)
A method of mapping private IP addresses to public IP addresses, allowing multiple devices to share a single public IP.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A technology that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, securing internet traffic.
DNS Propagation
The time it takes for DNS record changes to spread across all DNS servers worldwide, typically taking up to 48 hours.
Bandwidth
The maximum rate of data transfer across a network connection, measured in bits per second.
Reverse Proxy
A server that sits between clients and backend servers, forwarding client requests and returning server responses on their behalf.
Firewall
A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined rules.
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