Configure interVLAN routing

NOTE
This topic is not included in the latest version of the CCNA exam (200-301). If you are studying for the exam feel free to skip this article.

Each VLAN is its own subnet and broadcast domain, which means that frames broadcasted onto the network are switched only between the ports within the same VLAN. For interVLAN communication, an OSI layer 3 device (usually a router) is needed. This layer 3 device needs to have an IP address in each VLAN and have a connected route to each of those subnets. The hosts in each subnet can then be configured to use the router’s IP addresses as their default gateway.

Three options are available for routing between VLANs:

1. Use a router, with one router LAN interface connected to the switch for each VLAN. Since you need one Ethernet interface on your router to connect to each VLAN, this option is not really scalable and rarely used today.

interVLAN routing with a router

2. Use one router interface with trunking enabled. This option is called router on a stick (ROAS) and enables all VLANs to communicate over a single interface.

interVLAN routing with router on a stick

3. Use a Layer 3 switch, which is a device that performs both the switching and routing operations.


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