VLAN vs VRF
A virtual local area network (VLAN) is a logical grouping of network devices that share a common communication path but are isolated from each other at the data link layer (OSI Layer 2). A VLAN allows multiple physically separate networks to communicate as if they were attached to the same wire, even if they were not.
A virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance is a logical group of network devices that share the same routing and forwarding table entries. A VRF allows multiple physically separate networks to communicate as if they were attached to the same router, even if they were not.
What is the difference between VLAN and VRF?
Here are the key differences between VLAN and VRF:
| VLAN | VRF | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A VLAN is a logical grouping of network devices at the data link layer (OSI Layer 2) | A VRF is a logical grouping of network devices at the network layer (OSI Layer 3) |
| 2 | A VLAN allows multiple physically separate networks to communicate as if they were attached to the same wire | A VRF allows multiple physically separate networks to communicate as if they were attached to the same router |
| 3 | A VLAN is typically used for segmenting networks at Layer 2 | A VRF is used for segmenting networks at Layer 3 |
| 4 | A VLAN is usually transparent to the end user | A VRF is usually not transparent to the end user |
| 5 | A VLAN is typically used to segment a LAN into multiple subnets | A VRF can be used to segment a WAN into multiple subnets or to connect multiple sites |
| 6 | A VLAN can span multiple switches | A VRF is typically confined to a single router |
| 7 | A VLAN can have multiple Layer 3 interfaces (routers or switches) | A VRF can have only one |
| 8 | VLANs are identified by a 12-bit field in the frame header | VRFs are identified by a 32-bit field in the IP header |
| 9 | VLANs can be configured manually or automatically | VRFs must be configured manually |
| 10 | VLANs are typically used in LANs | VRFs can be used in both LANs and WANs |
| 11 | VLANs are supported by all major Ethernet switches | VRFs are supported by Cisco routers and some other router vendors |
| 12 | VLANs can be used to create private networks | VRFs can be used to create public or private networks |
| 13 | VLANs can be secured using 802.1q encryption | VRFs can be secured using IPSec or GRE |
| 14 | VLANs have a maximum of 4096 unique IDs | VRFs have a maximum of4294967296 unique IDs |
| 15 | VLANs can be used to create isolated networks for security or performance reasons | VRFs can be used to create isolated networks for routing purposes |
| 16 | VLANs can be used to create separate broadcast domains | VRFs can be used to create separate forwarding instances |
| 17 | VLANs can be used to segment a network into multiple logical subnets | VRFs can be used to segment a network into multiple virtual subnets |
| 18 | VLANs can be monitored using SNMP | VRF can not be monitored using SNMP |
Very well explained! Thank you, Jaspreet! ????