65: Ignore the Flinch

Here’s a chunk from the new edition of Networking for Systems Administrators.

Similarly, some vendors use the word VLAN. Others talk about tagging or VLAN tagging. To create a VLAN, devices add a tag to an Ethernet frame. It’s all the same thing

Most network administrators use the language of their preferred vendor. If your company only uses network gear from company X, it almost certainly uses that company’s terminology. Those of us who have been around for a long time either adopt our organization’s language or, worse, use all of these terms interchangeably. If I’m your network admin, I might tell you that I’ve configured a trunk to your server. Or that I’m sending you some tagged VLANs. Or that I’ve configured a trunk on your trunk, at which point you’re allowed to proceed directly to hard liquor.

If you’re in doubt, ask your network administrator if this is the trunk with tagged VLANs or the trunk with multiple cables. Ignore the flinch, she can’t help it.

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