Create the VLAN
Enter your user name and password at the prompt. The prompt should display the name of the switch, followed by a pound (#) sign. If there is a carrot (>) sign, the switch is not configured to auto-enable your session. Enter enable mode by typing “enable,” then hit “enter.” You should be prompted for your password one more time before you are presented with the switch name, followed by the pound sign.
Enter configuration mode by typing “configuration terminal.” This mode allows you to make changes to the device.
Create a new VLAN by typing “vlan x,” where” x” is the number of the VLAN you are creating. Normal VLAN numbers range from 1 to 4,094. There are some that are already assigned by standard for other use. Steer clear of using these VLANs for customer assignments. VLAN 1 (management), VLAN 1,002 (fiber-distributed data interface), VLAN 1,003 (token ring), VLAN 1,004 (fiber-distributed data interface network) and VLAN 1,005 (additional token ring interface) are all reserved.
Add a name to the VLAN so that you know what each is used for without having to memorize all the numbers or keep a cheat sheet. Type “name Hotel.” “Hotel” can be replaced by any name that you want to use, but it does not allow special characters, including spaces. The name field will appear exactly as you type it, and you can substitute an underscore as a space between a two-word name. This name is not mandatory and can be added at a later date if forgotten.
Exit configuration mode by typing “exit.” Save your changes by typing “write memory.”
Verify the VLAN
Verify that the VLAN was created by typing “show vlan.” The switch will respond with a printout of all the VLANs on the switch.
Check the first column of the chart, which is the VLAN number. Make sure that the VLAN you created is listed in this column.
Check the second column, which is the VLAN name. This should be the exact syntax that you used to create the name.
Check the third column, which shows the current status. The status should show “active” or you will not be able to use the VLAN to pass traffic.
Check the last column, which is the ports column. It lists all of the ports that carry traffic on that VLAN. The port that the customer’s equipment is plugged into must be added to the VLAN to allow access to the traffic. More than one port is allowed to receive traffic from a single VLAN, depending on what type of service you are providing to the customer.