Short for virtual LAN, a network of computers that behave as if they are connected to the same wire even though they may actually be physically located on different segments of a LAN. VLANs are configured through software rather than hardware, which makes them extremely flexible. One of the biggest advantages of VLANs is that when a computer is physically moved to another location, it can stay on the same VLAN without any hardware reconfiguration.
Cisco's VLAN Roadmap Contains product information and technical papers on Cisco's switched internetworking products.
The Virtual LAN Technology Report A white paper from 1996 describing VLANs, how they work with ATM and DHCP and the future of VLANs. (pdf)
