This section gives a general understanding of the benefits of LAN segmentation.
Critical Information
One of the biggest advantages of LAN segmentation is the ability to increase the bandwidth available to the users on the network. Each user can be confined to different LAN segments that confine broadcasts and other traffic to individual segments.
In addition, by segmenting a LAN, you can overcome the distance limitations of the LAN cabling, decrease collisions, decrease broadcast traffic, decrease multicast traffic, improve throughput in the network, and decrease latency. Let’s take a look at the following topics, which Cisco believes are advantages of network segmenting:
Security
Broadcast Control
Performance
Scalability
Security
By segmenting, you improve your network’s security by isolating groups by task, location, or department. Those users who need more security can be segmented into their own network. Data shared between these users can be seen only by those users who are on the same network, and users who are not part of their network cannot communicate with them.
Broadcast Control
This is one of the main reasons for segmenting your network with switches and VLANs. Too many broadcasts on the network can really slow things down. Whether you use a hub or a switch, every PC on the network that is part of the same VLAN has to attempt to process the broadcast. Switches can isolate collision domains for attached hosts and forward only appropriate traffic to particular ports. Layer 3 VLANs can provide complete isolation of data between different user groups, even if they are connected to the same switch.
Performance
By segmenting your network, you eliminate broadcasts and limit the number of users who are sending traffic down your cabling. Since cabling does not have an unlimited capacity, anything you do to segment users away from your cabling eliminates data traffic and increases the amount of bandwidth available. If you contain data traffic originating on a particular network, you avoid wasting bandwidth. VLANs are one of the best solutions for eliminating broadcasts and segmenting the network.
Scalability
Segmenting adds to your network’s scalability, particularly in LANs that have heavy broadcast or multicast network environments.
Exam Essential
Know the benefits of segmenting the LAN. Segmenting the LAN allows you to overcome cabling distance limitations, and to decrease broadcasts, multicasts, and collisions. This lets you to improve throughput, latency, and the amount of total bandwidth for each user.
Key Term and Concept
segmentation The use of LAN devices such as routers, bridges, and switches to decrease the size of a LAN and the number of users, increase distance limitations, improve network throughput, and decrease the amount of traffic on the local LAN.
Related posts:
- Benefits of Network Segmentation With Routers
- LAN segmentation using bridges and switches
- Network Congestion Problem in Ethernet Networks
- Virtual LANs
- Distance Limitations of Fast Ethernet
- Spanning Tree Protocol
- Layered Model Exam Points
- Fast Ethernet Distance Limitations
- Full and Half-Duplex Ethernet Operation
- RIP Routing Protocol
