Reasons to add a VLAN

Isolation

VLANs enable you to prevent cross-talk between devices that don't need to communicate with one another by segmenting your network into more easily managed slices. This is common in networks with groups of devices like security cameras, IoT devices, and/or VoIP lines.

Security

Separate network segments make security easier to handle. VLANs are a simple way to restrict access to clients by applying firewall rules with pinpoint accuracy.

Setting up a VLAN

Creating a VLAN

In order for VLANs to work, your router needs to know about the VLANs as well. If you are using Alta Switches with your Alta Router, this only needs to be done in one place. The steps below outline how to set up a VLAN on an Alta Labs Route10 and Alta Labs Switches. If you’re not running an Alta Labs router, please follow instructions provided by your router manufacturer and skip this section. Either way, if you are using an Alta Labs switch, the method for configuring a VLAN is very similar.

From the main Network tab in the controller:

1. Click the icon of the Route10 or your Alta Labs Switch
2. Click the + icon
3. Input the VLAN number (this must match across all devices handling this VLAN)
4. Optionally, but recommended, add a Description. This is solely for organizational and informational purposes and has no effect on the functionality of the VLAN
5. If using an Alta Labs router, provide the Router IP; this will be used as the Gateway IP in DHCP
6. Click Save

Adding VLAN to an Alta Labs S8-PoE (Also applies to S16-PoE and S24-PoE)

For more information on configuring VLANs on Alta Labs switches, please see this separate article

Adding VLAN to the AltaPass SSID

On the main Settings tab, Click an existing SSID name to edit or Add new to create a new SSID.

1. Click the purple network type button to the left of the password
2. Input the desired VLAN ID for this AltaPass
3. Click Save

Clients connecting to this AltaPass will now be running on the new VLAN subnet you defined above.