Network Segment

What does Network Segment mean?

A network segment is a logical or physical subdivision of a Computer Network. In a logical network segment, devices are connected to the same broadcast domain, meaning they can directly communicate with each other using network broadcasts. In a physical network segment, devices are connected to the same physical network medium, such as a cable or wireless channel.

Network segments can be created for various reasons, such as security, performance, or management. For example, a network segment can be created to isolate a group of devices from the rest of the network, or to improve network performance by reducing traffic congestion.

Network segments are typically created using switches, routers, or firewalls. Switches connect devices to a physical network segment, while routers connect devices to different logical network segments. Firewalls can be used to control traffic between network segments and to prevent unauthorized access.

Applications

Network segments are used in a variety of applications, including:

• Security: Network segmentation can be used to improve security by isolating different groups of devices from each other. For example, a network segment can be created for a group of servers that contain sensitive data, and access to this segment can be restricted to authorized users only.
• Performance: Network segmentation can be used to improve network performance by reducing traffic congestion. For example, a network segment can be created for a group of high-Bandwidth devices, such as servers, and this segment can be connected to a higher-bandwidth network connection.
• Management: Network segmentation can be used to simplify network management. For example, a network segment can be created for a group of devices that are managed by a specific administrator, and this segment can be easily isolated from the rest of the network for maintenance or troubleshooting.

History

The concept of network segmentation has been around since the early days of Computer Networking. In the early 1980s, the Xerox PARC research center developed the Ethernet protocol, which allowed multiple devices to be connected to a single physical network segment. However, Ethernet was not originally designed to support large networks, and as networks grew larger, it became necessary to find ways to segment them.

In the mid-1980s, the IEEE developed the IEEE 802.1Q standard, which introduced the concept of VLANs (Virtual LANs). VLANs allow multiple logical network segments to be created on a single physical network, and they can be used to isolate different groups of devices from each other.

In the late 1990s, the IEEE developed the IEEE 802.1X standard, which introduced the concept of port-based Network Access Control. Port-based network access control allows network administrators to control access to network segments based on the port that a device is connected to.

Today, network segmentation is an essential part of Network Design and management. It is used in a variety of applications, including security, performance, and management, and it is essential for building scalable and reliable networks.