I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, and peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.
DECLARATION
I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.
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ABSTRACT
In this study we will try to explore the concept of Virtual Local Area Network in a holistic context. The main focus of the research will be on the design and implementation of Virtual LAN. The research will also analyse many aspects of VLAN in campus networks and will try to gauge its effect. The study also focuses on the components of Virtual Local Area Network and how they may help in the campus networks. The study describes how a VLAN is designed and how it is implemented.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII
DECLARATIONIII
ABSTRACTIV
CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION1
Background of the Study1
Problem Statement1
Rationale2
Aims and Objectives2
Research Questions2
CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW4
Virtual Local Area Network4
Objectives of VLAN5
1.Flexible Network5
a) Project Team5
b) SOHO5
c) Moving6
d) Client-/Server-Structures6
2.Efficient Networks6
3.Secure Network7
4.Other Objectives8
a)Migratable / Scalability8
b)Network Management8
c)Cost-Effectiveness8
Services Offered by VLAN9
Design of a VLAN9
Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE)9
Architecture10
Topology11
Switches12
a.Cut-Through Switches12
b.Store and Forward Switches12
c.Cell-based Switches13
Application and Web Server14
Front End Design14
Back End Design15
Software Features16
VLAN Assignment17
Exchange of Address Tables17
Frame Tagging18
Time Division Multiplexing19
Proposal of the IEEE20
Layer 3 Switching20
Backbone21
VLAN Implementation22
Port-based VLANs24
MAC-based VLANs25
VLANs Layer 326
Rules-Based VLANs28
CHAPTER 03: METHODOLOGY29
Research Design29
Pitfalls and Problems29
Rationale for a Qualitative Study30
Literature Search30
CHAPTER 04: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS31
Components of a VLAN31
Access Switch31
Trunk link32
Types of VLANs33
Protocols and Design33
The LAN Emulation over ATM Specification Version 1.034
CHAPTER 05: CONCLUSION39
The Benefits of Implementing a VLAN40
1.Cost reduction of movement and change41
2.Virtual Working Groups41
3.Security42
VLANs and ATM Problems and Solutions42
Edge Routing (routing end or peripheral)45
One-armed router45
Route Server46
Multiprotocol over ATM (MPOA)47
Challenges of Migration47
CHAPTER 06: EVALUATION49
Contributions of this thesis49
Future Work49
REFERENCES51
CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Network managers of today's campus networks face unique design challenges to meet a wider range of security and performance requirements. One such challenge includes managing and configuring VLANs. VLANs are extensively used in campus networks and are often used to address groups of users as a single unit to ease management even though they are spread over physically disparate locations. But there are many potential sources of errors that arise because of existing ad-hoc approaches to VLAN design and management. According to recent statistics, 65% of cyber attacks exploit design and configuration errors which account for substantial amount of network problems. It is also virtually impossible to identify the root cause of misconfigurations in a network with thousands of routers, switches and end systems. Hence, there is an imminent need to develop systems that can assist network operators in managing VLANs, which form a primary component of every campus network design.
Problem Statement
Recent empirical studies (Le, 2008, p. 58: Maltz, 2004, p.24: Sung, 2008, p. 22) have shown most campus networks with size and design complexity surpassing carrier ...