VLAN Configuration and Troubleshooting

A virtual local area network (VLAN) is a virtualized subnetwork designed to connect different LANs, which may be distributed throughout a wide geographic range. The purpose of a VLAN is to add a helpful layer of intercommunication to your local area networks. Switch ports are the crux of any VLAN configuration, and a port can be assigned to one or multiple VLANs. Port configuration allows nodes operating in distinct LANs to be grouped into easily communicable structures based on how often they communicate with one another.

Just like physical network configurations, VLANs are constantly adding and removing new nodes, especially in large networks. Network configuration changes can be difficult to manage as your network grows. Network managers can benefit from the help of an automated VLAN management tool designed to prevent unnecessary configuration change errors and reduce inefficiencies like network downtime and erroneous configuration schemes.

For sophisticated network configuration tools like SolarWinds^® Network Configuration Manager, VLAN configuration management is an integral feature of their network management approach. VLAN management providers understand the necessity of automated VLAN management in a twenty-first-century enterprise. VLAN management tools can alert you of any changes and automatically detect device failures. For potential configuration issues, VLAN management tools offer alerts and troubleshooting scripts to aid in rapid problem-solving.

VLAN management is similar to network configuration management—VLAN management involves setting up and editing configuration files. VLAN management can also include more complex ways of automating VLAN configuration management. Its most essential function is to monitor and update your nodes in a centralized location, leveraging real-time updates to node data. VLAN management software can add network configuration changes to your VLAN configuration files for increased accuracy in your VLAN setup.

VLAN management software offers network security safeguards, such as detecting security misconfigurations and failed switches, replacing switch outages, and automatically backing up VLAN configuration files. It can also provide automated notifications when network configuration files change and scheduled reports to update you on issues and trends.

VLAN configuration involves many of the same processes as physical network configuration. The first step is the discovery process, in which you must discover network nodes. With VLAN software, you then add your nodes to a web-based console like the SolarWinds Orion^® Platform. After discovering your nodes, you must determine which ones you want to manage.

The next step in VLAN configuration is to establish VLAN configuration files. A binary configuration file requires a setup process you can execute manually or with the help of a setup wizard through your VLAN management tool. Once you’ve entered your network credentials and validated your connection, you can then download configuration files from either a single node or multiple nodes. This allows you to establish a configuration scheme for the relationships between each node in your VLAN. No matter your device vendor, VLAN configuration files can keep track of any detectable node.

Once you’ve set up your configuration files, you can edit configurations and archive them in case you need them for troubleshooting diagnostics in the future. VLAN configuration tools also allow you to import external configuration files and automate updates based on command tasks from your VLAN management software.

Manual VLAN management can be nearly impossible, especially with a large network containing multiple LANs. For security compliance regulations, it’s important to maintain an accurate, up-to-date configuration setup. Manual configuration changes and task execution can greatly increase the risk of errors in your security compliance reporting, leading to downtime and conflict with your industry compliance organization.

VLAN management software allows you to automate VLAN updates, receive alerts when changes are made to your VLAN, and use real-time monitoring to catch potential issues in your virtual network. The significant downtime caused by manual configuration management can decrease your organization’s productivity, so VLAN management software can save you time and money.

Disaster recovery is another unsung advantage of VLAN management tools. When a device fails, replacing it requires a thorough understanding of your network configuration. What port will the new device use? What other devices—inside and outside of its LAN—will your new device communicate with? VLAN management software allows you to locate your new device’s VLAN configuration from backup config files and immediately deploy your new device.

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager offers a unique licensing model for your optimal VLAN management scale. Instead of being a one-size-fits-all closed-source tool, NCM comes in seven different licenses based on the number of nodes in your network. In addition to port switches and other VLAN devices, SolarWinds NCM can manage almost any device capable of operating within a network from almost any vendor.

SolarWinds NCM is unique among VLAN management tools because it uses the Orion Platform, a web-based console designed to ensure Quality of Experience and real-time monitoring capabilities. In addition to the predictability, reliability, and efficiency it offers, almost all SolarWinds IT management products can be integrated into the Orion Platform. This allows you to deploy a centralized IT management system for robust IT management.

NCM also allows for firmware upgrades as you need them. When you set up NCM, you can establish your firmware storage location and set the parameters of your firmware repository. Your firmware repository will give you easy access to firmware upgrade templates, allowing you to perform firmware upgrades as soon as they become necessary.