# Virtual LANs

A Virtual LAN (VLAN) is a logical grouping of network devices put together as a LAN regardless of their physical grouping. VLANs let a user see and access only specified network segments and limits collision domains. This increases network performance and allows network security.

| VLANs offer the ability to group computers together into logical workgroups. This can simplify network administration when connecting clients to servers that are geographically dispersed across the building, campus, or enterprise network. Typically, VLANs consist of co-workers within the same department but in different locations, groups of users running the same network protocol, or a cross-functional team working on a joint project.

By using VLANs on your network, you can:

- Improve network performance

- Limit broadcast storms

- Improve adds, moves, and changes

- Minimize security problems

- Ease your management task

## Supported Operating Systems

IEEE VLANs are supported in the following operating systems. Configuration details are available for Microsoft Windows XP*.

## Supported Adapters

- IEEE VLANs are supported on all PRO/1000 gigabit adapters and all PRO/100 server adapters.

- All PRO/1000 server adapters support multiple IEEE VLANs matching the switch tags.

## Other Implementation Considerations

- To set up IEEE VLAN membership (multiple VLANs), your adapter must be attached to a switch with IEEE 802.1Q VLAN capability.

- VLANs can co-exist with teaming. If you do this, the team must be defined first, then you can set up your VLAN. In Windows, teams and VLANs are set up using Intel® PROSet.

| NOTE: VLANs require VLAN capable switches either implicit (switch only) or explicit (IEEE 802). IEEE VLANs allow multiple VLANs per adapter or team since both the switch and adapter use a tag in the packet header to sort VLANs. These teaming options are supported only on Intel PRO/100 and PRO/1000 server adapters.
| IMPORTANT: When using IEEE 802.1Q VLANs, the settings must match between the switch and those adapters using the VLANs.
| NOTE: VLANs require VLAN capable switches either implicit (switch only) or explicit (IEEE 802.1Q). IEEE VLANs allow multiple VLANs per adapter or team since both the switch and adapter use a tag in the packet header to sort VLANs.

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