2.6 – Network Connections: VLANs and VPNs

A virtual network that uses encryption to securely send information across a public network like the internet.

A device or software that acts as a central point for VPN connections, handling encryption and decryption of data.

The process of encoding data into a format that is unreadable without a key, ensuring privacy and security.

The process of converting encrypted data back into its original readable format, using a key.

A technology that allows network administrators to logically segment a single network into multiple smaller, isolated networks.

An isolated network segment within a larger network, often used to improve security, management, and performance.

A way to organize and manage devices on a network by grouping them based on their function or location.

A secure connection between a VPN client and a VPN concentrator, ensuring secure data transmission over a public network.

Software or hardware that establishes a secure connection to a VPN concentrator, allowing users to access a private network remotely.

Creating a secure connection using VPN software or hardware, enabling encrypted data transmission over insecure networks.

A local area network where devices share the same broadcast domain, meaning they can communicate with each other directly. For example, devices connected to the same switch.

Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) allows separate networks to exist on the same physical switch without devices on different networks being able to directly communicate. This allows for logical network segmentation without the need for multiple physical switches.

The ability for a network to communicate with multiple devices in the same broadcast domain, leading to potential network congestion and security risks.

By logically segmenting the network into separate VLANs, each with its own broadcast domain, we can reduce the number of broadcasts on the network. This allows for better performance and improved security.

VLANs are a way to logically separate networks on a single physical switch. For example, you can create a VLAN called 'Red Network' and a VLAN called 'Blue Network' on the same switch, allowing devices on these networks to be separated while still being on the same physical device.

VLANs allow us to use fewer physical switches, reducing costs associated with purchasing, powering, and managing multiple devices. This makes maintaining the network more efficient.

Devices connected to the same VLAN can communicate with each other, while devices on different VLANs cannot communicate directly without specific configurations.

By configuring VLANs, we can group devices logically on a network. For example, all devices on the same VLAN can be considered part of the same department or project.