The access layer, which is the lowest level of the Cisco three tier network model, ensures that packets are delivered to end user devices. This layer is sometimes referred to as the desktop layer, because it focuses on connecting client nodes to the network. Access layer devices include hubs, multi-station access units and switches.

By default, the switch forwards untagged traffic in the native VLAN configured for the port. The native VLAN is VLAN 1 by default. The native VLAN can be assigned any VLAN ID.

Select Switching>VLAN>Basic > VLAN Configuration. Create a static VLAN by specifying a VLAN ID and VLAN name, and, from the VLAN Type menu, selecting Static. Click the Add button. The new VLAN is added to the configuration.

To create VLAN interfaces:

1. Determine the IP addresses that you want to assign to the VLAN interfaces on the switch.
2. Open a web browser.
3. In the browser address field, type the IP address of the smart switch.
4. Type the password in the Password field.
5. Click the Login button.
6. Select Routing>IP>IP Configuration.

Choose a valid VLAN number.

A port on a Cisco switch is either an access port or a trunk port. Access ports belong to a single VLAN and do not provide any identifying marks on the frames that are passed between switches. Access ports also carry traffic that comes from only the VLAN assigned to the port. A trunk port is by default a member of all the VLANs that exist on the switch and carry traffic for all those VLANs between the switches. To distinguish between the traffic flows, a trunk port must mark the frames with