- This chapter discusses switching and VLANs, including Fast Ethernet, full- and half-duplex Ethernet operations, LAN switching methods like cut-through and store-and-forward, and the Spanning Tree Protocol. It also defines virtual LANs (VLANs) and how they segment networks logically without changing the physical configuration. VLAN trunking protocols are used to communicate VLAN information between switches.

1. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Switching and VLANs

8. Latency Table 13-1: Propagation delay for Ethernet media and devices

16. Half- and Full-Duplex Communications Figure 13-1: Half-duplex Ethernet communications

26. Segmentation with Switches Figure 13-2: Switch packet forwarding actions

27. Segmentation with Switches Figure 13-3: Packet forwarding decisions made by a switch

32. Switching Methods Figure 13-4: Catalyst 2820 switching menu

34. Cut-Through Figure 13-5: Portion of packet read into buffer by a cut-through switch

39. Spanning Tree Protocol Figure 13-8: Physical loop created on LAN by switches and bridges

46. Virtual LAN Figure 13-9: Broadcast domains on a LAN

47. Virtual LAN Figure 13-10: Broadcast domains using VLANs

49. Benefit of VLANs Figure 13-11: Securing servers with VLANs

62. Routers and VLANs Figure 13-12: Router implemented in a VLAN configuration