access link:

Is a link used with switches and is only part of one Virtual LAN (VLAN). Trunk links carry information from multiple VLANs. [TOC]

broadcast domain:

A group of devices recieving broadcast frames initiating from any device within the group. Because they don't forward broadcast frames, broadcast domains are generally surrounded by routers. [TOC]

collision domain:

The network area in Ethernet over which frames that have collided will spread. Collisions are propagated by hubs and repeaters, but not by LAN switches, routers, or bridges. [TOC]

dynamic VLAN:

An administrator will create an entry in a special server with hardware addresses of all devices on the internetwork. The server will then assign dynamically used VLANs. [TOC]

flat network:

Network that is one large collision doimain and one large broadcast domain. [TOC]

ISL routing:

Inter-Switch Link routing is a Cisco proprietary method of frame tagging in a switched internetwork. Frame tagging is a way to identify the VLAN membership of a frame as it traverses a switched internetwork. [TOC]

static VLAN:

Static VLANs are manually configured port-by-port. This is the method typically used in production networks. [TOC]

switch fabric:

Term used to identify a layer-2 switched internetwork with many switches. [TOC]

trunk link:

Links used between switches and from some servers to the switches. Trunk links carry information about many VLANs. Access links are used to connect host devices to a switch and carry only VLAN information that the device is a member of. [TOC]

Virtual LAN (VLAN):

A group of devices on one or more logically segmented LANs (configured by use of management software), enabling devices to communucate as if attached to the same physical medium, when they are actually located on numerous different LAN segments. VLANs are based on logical instead of physical connections and thus are tremendously flexible. [TOC]

VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP):

Used to update switches in a swiche fabric about VLANs configured on a VTP server. VTP devices can be a VTP server, client, or transparent device. Servers update clients. Transparent devices are only local devices and do not share information with VTP clients. VTPs send VLAN information down trunked links only. [TOC]