Types of VLANs Explained with Examples | Default, Data, Voice, and More

Discover the different types of VLANs—Default, Data, Voice, Management, Native, and Trunk VLANs. Understand each type with simple real-life examples and network tips.

Ethical Hacking Techniques Jul 1, 2025 17 Add to Reading List

Types of VLANs Explained with Examples | Default, Data, Voice, and More

Quick‑Look Table — VLAN Types and Everyday Examples
Default VLAN – “The Lobby”
Data VLAN – “The Open Office”
Voice VLAN – “The Hotline”
Management VLAN – “Admin Control Room”
Native VLAN – “The Visitor Pass”
Trunk VLANs (Tagged) – “The Elevator”
Putting It All Together — A Simple Scenario
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A VLAN is like an invisible wall inside a switch that keeps different groups of devices apart—even when they share the same physical cables. By placing ports into separate VLANs, you improve security, reduce broadcast noise, and keep voice or management traffic away from everyday user data.

Below, we break down the six most common VLAN types you’ll see in real networks, using simple, real‑life comparisons and best‑practice tips.

Quick‑Look Table — VLAN Types and Everyday Examples

VLAN Type	What It Does	Think of It As…	Typical ID*
Default VLAN	All switch ports start here until you change them	A lobby where new employees enter	1 (factory default)
Data VLAN	Carries normal user traffic (laptops, printers)	Office workstations	10, 20, 30…
Voice VLAN	Gives IP phones their own lane with call priority	A dedicated hotline	110, 120…
Management VLAN	Lets admins reach switch/ router interfaces	An IT control room	99 (commonly)
Native VLAN	Sends untagged traffic across trunk links	A visitor pass to a waiting area	Same as Data or a unique ID
Trunk VLANs (Tagged)	Carry multiple VLANs over one link	An elevator serving all floors	Many IDs tagged with 802.1Q

*ID numbers are examples; you assign them to match your own design.

1. Default VLAN – “The Lobby”

What it is
Every switch ships with a default VLAN (ID 1). Until you assign a port to something else, it lives here.

Why it matters
Think of this VLAN as a public lobby. New devices land here first—fine for initial setup but not for production traffic because everything can “see” everything else.

Best practice
Move user ports off VLAN 1 quickly and reserve it for non‑routable tasks or disable it entirely on trunks.

2. Data VLAN – “The Open Office”

What it is
The Data VLAN carries routine user traffic—web browsing, file sharing, and printing.

Real‑life example
Picture a department’s open‑plan desk area: employees interact freely, but they don’t mingle with the phone system or the admin control room.

Tip
Segment large offices into multiple Data VLANs (Sales = 10, Engineering = 20) to reduce broadcasts and apply tailored firewall rules.

3. Voice VLAN – “The Hotline”

What it is
A Voice VLAN is a special lane for IP phones. Switches can prioritize this traffic (Quality of Service) to keep calls clear even when data traffic spikes.

Analogy
Like giving executives a dedicated hotline that never gets a busy signal.

Config note
On most switches you enable switchport voice vlan 110, ensuring the phone tags its packets while the PC behind it uses the Data VLAN.

4. Management VLAN – “Admin Control Room”

What it is
A Management VLAN is reserved for accessing device consoles, SNMP monitoring, and other out‑of‑band tasks.

Why it helps
Keeping admin traffic separate reduces the risk that a compromised PC can reconfigure your switch or router.

Security tip
Only allow IT staff IPs through firewalls, and disable routing from user networks to the Management VLAN.

5. Native VLAN – “The Visitor Pass”

What it is
On an 802.1Q trunk link, most frames carry a VLAN tag. The Native VLAN is where untagged frames land.

Analogy
Like letting a visitor wait in a designated area until you decide where they can go.

Gotcha
If the Native VLAN is the same on both sides of a trunk, life is good. If not, traffic “bleeds” between networks. Many engineers set the Native VLAN to an unused ID (e.g., 999) for safety.

6. Trunk VLANs (Tagged) – “The Elevator”

What it is
A Trunk can carry many VLANs across a single cable by tagging each frame with its VLAN ID.

Why it’s useful
You don’t need a separate cable for every VLAN between switches—just one trunk link acts like an elevator serving all floors.

Implementation
Use switchport mode trunk on Cisco or vlan tagged statements on other vendors, and specify allowed VLAN IDs to reduce attack surface.

Putting It All Together — A Simple Scenario

Port 1‑24 → Data VLAN 10 for employees
Port 25‑48 → Data VLAN 20 for contractors
IP Phones on those same ports tagged to Voice VLAN 110
Switch management interface on VLAN 99
Trunk uplink to core switch: carries VLANs 10, 20, 99, 110; Native VLAN set to 999 (unused)

This design keeps voice sharp, user devices segmented, and IT management locked down.

Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Mistake	Why It’s Bad	Fix
Leaving all ports in VLAN 1	Attackers can sniff or spoof traffic easily	Move ports to proper Data VLANs
Same Native VLAN for users	Allows VLAN hopping attacks	Use an unused ID (e.g., 999)
Mixing voice & data on one VLAN	Voice jitter and security issues	Configure a dedicated Voice VLAN
Open management interface to all	Risk of unauthorized changes	ACLs, VPN, or out‑of‑band network

Key Takeaways

Default VLAN is only for initial setup—move user ports away.
Data VLAN carries everyday traffic; split large groups into separate IDs.
Voice VLAN ensures call quality via QoS tagging.
Management VLAN protects switches and routers from user subnet attacks.
Native VLAN handles untagged frames; keep it unused to avoid leaks.
Trunk VLANs let one link transport many VLANs—like an elevator serving every floor.

Mastering these VLAN types will make your network faster, safer, and easier to manage—even if you’re just getting started in networking.

FAQ:

What is a VLAN?

A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a logical grouping of devices that allows segmentation of a network for improved security and efficiency.

What are the main types of VLANs?

The main types include Default VLAN, Data VLAN, Voice VLAN, Management VLAN, Native VLAN, and Trunk VLAN.

What is a Default VLAN?

A Default VLAN is the initial VLAN all switch ports are assigned to by default, typically VLAN 1.

What is a Data VLAN?

A Data VLAN carries user-generated traffic such as email, file transfers, and web access.

What is a Voice VLAN?

A Voice VLAN is used to carry voice traffic from IP phones with higher priority for call quality.

What is a Management VLAN?

A Management VLAN is dedicated to network device management like configuring switches and monitoring systems.

What is a Native VLAN?

A Native VLAN carries untagged traffic on trunk ports between switches or routers.

What is a Trunk VLAN?

A Trunk VLAN (Tagged VLAN) carries traffic for multiple VLANs across a single network link.

Why are VLANs important in networking?

VLANs enhance network performance, increase security, and allow easier network management.

How does VLAN tagging work?

VLAN tagging adds a VLAN ID to Ethernet frames to identify which VLAN the traffic belongs to.

What protocol is used for VLAN tagging?

IEEE 802.1Q is the standard protocol used for VLAN tagging on Ethernet networks.

Can one port belong to multiple VLANs?

Yes, a trunk port can carry traffic for multiple VLANs using VLAN tagging.

What is an access port in VLANs?

An access port belongs to a single VLAN and is used for connecting end devices like PCs.

What is the difference between access and trunk ports?

Access ports carry traffic for one VLAN; trunk ports carry traffic for multiple VLANs.

Is VLAN 1 secure?

VLAN 1 is default and often targeted by attackers, so it’s recommended to avoid using it for management.

Can VLANs be used for security?

Yes, VLANs can isolate network segments, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and broadcast storms.

How do VLANs improve performance?

By segmenting traffic, VLANs reduce congestion and broadcast traffic on a network.

What is inter-VLAN routing?

Inter-VLAN routing allows communication between different VLANs using a Layer 3 device like a router or Layer 3 switch.

Do VLANs work across switches?

Yes, VLANs can span multiple switches through trunk ports that carry multiple VLAN traffic.

What is VLAN hopping?

VLAN hopping is a security exploit where an attacker gains access to traffic from other VLANs by manipulating VLAN tags.

Can VLANs be used in wireless networks?

Yes, VLANs can be mapped to different SSIDs to segment traffic in wireless networks.

What is the use of VLAN 999?

VLAN 999 is commonly used as a dummy or unused VLAN to handle untagged traffic for security purposes.

Are VLANs supported on all switches?

Most managed switches support VLANs, but basic unmanaged switches typically do not.

What is SVI in VLAN?

SVI (Switched Virtual Interface) is a virtual interface used for inter-VLAN routing on Layer 3 switches.

Can you have more than one management VLAN?

While technically possible, it's best practice to have only one management VLAN to avoid configuration issues.

What devices typically use the voice VLAN?

IP phones and VoIP devices typically use the voice VLAN to ensure high-priority communication.

Why is the native VLAN important?

The native VLAN handles untagged traffic on trunk links and should be configured securely to prevent misrouting.

How many VLANs can be configured on a switch?

Most enterprise switches support up to 4096 VLANs as per the IEEE 802.1Q standard.

Can VLANs span different locations?

Yes, VLANs can span across geographic locations using VLAN-aware switches and routing protocols.

What happens if VLANs are not configured correctly?

Improper VLAN configuration can cause broadcast storms, loss of connectivity, or security vulnerabilities.

Is it necessary to configure all VLANs manually?

In small networks, manual configuration is common; larger networks often use automation tools or scripts.