Network-wide > VLANs

Understanding VLAN Configuration in the Dashboard

This article provides a step-by-step guide to understanding and managing VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) in your dashboard. VLANs are used to segment network traffic, improve security, and optimize performance.

Overview of VLANs Page

The VLANs page in the dashboard provides an overview of your configured VLANs, including details like IDs, names, IP configurations, descriptions, and DHCP address allocation. Here is an explanation of the key elements:

• ID: A unique identifier assigned to each VLAN.
• Name: The descriptive label for each VLAN.
• IP Configuration: The IP range allocated to the VLAN.
• Description: A brief note about the VLAN's purpose.
• Assigned DHCP Addresses: The number of DHCP addresses currently assigned to devices within the VLAN.
• Available DHCP Addresses (%): The percentage of unallocated IPs within the DHCP range for that VLAN.

Key Features of VLAN Management

1. Default VLAN:
   • The "mgmt" VLAN (ID 1) is designated as the default VLAN for hardware management traffic.
   • It is marked as Read-only to prevent accidental changes.
2. Traffic Segmentation:
   • VLANs like "private" and "guest" ensure that sensitive corporate traffic is isolated from guest users.
   • VLAN segmentation enhances security and reduces unnecessary traffic.
3. Custom Descriptions:
   • Adding meaningful descriptions helps in understanding the purpose of each VLAN at a glance.
4. DHCP Monitoring:
   • The dashboard tracks the usage of DHCP addresses, ensuring that the available IP pool is efficiently utilized.

Steps to Add or Edit a VLAN

To Add a VLAN:

• Navigate to the VLANs page.
• Click the + Add VLAN button.
• Fill in the following fields:
  • VLAN ID: Assign a unique numeric ID.
  • Name: Enter a name that describes the VLAN's purpose.
  • IP Configuration: Specify the IP range and subnet mask (e.g., 10.107.0.1/24).
  • Description: Optionally, provide a note for better context.
  • Permitted inter-VLAN communication: Select VLANs you want to be able to communicate with this new VLAN.
  • Enable DHCP Server: Optionally, you can toggle the Enable DHCP server switch to the “on” position.
• Override Gateway (Optional): If you want the DHCP gateway to differ from the VLAN’s primary gateway, toggle the Override gateway switch.
• Enter the desired Gateway IP address in the provided field.
• Set the IP Address Range:
• Specify the Start IP address (the first address in the range for DHCP clients).
• Specify the End IP address (the last address in the range for DHCP clients).
• Lease Duration: Enter the desired lease duration (in hours) in the Lease duration field. For example, “24” gives devices a 24-hour lease.
• Search Domains (Optional): Add one or more search domains (e.g., example.com) in the Search domains field, one per line, if needed for domain name resolution.
• Save the configuration.

To Edit a VLAN:

1. Click on the VLAN you want to edit.
2. Make the desired changes to fields like name, description, or IP range.
3. Save the changes.