VLAN groups and virtual routing interface group
To simplify configuration when you have many VLANs with the same configuration, you can configure VLAN groups and virtual routing interface groups.
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VLAN groups are supported on Layer 3 Switches and Layer 2 Switches. Virtual routing interface groups are supported only on Layer 3 Switches.
When you create a VLAN group, the VLAN parameters you configure for the group apply to all the VLANs within the group. Additionally, you can easily associate the same IP subnet interface with all the VLANs in a group by configuring a virtual routing interface group with the same ID as the VLAN group.
- The VLAN group feature allows you to create multiple port-based VLANs with identical port members. Because the member ports are shared by all the VLANs within the group, you must add the ports as tagged ports. This feature not only simplifies VLAN configuration but also allows you to have a large number of identically configured VLANs in a startup-config file on the device flash memory module. Normally, a startup-config file with a large number of VLANs might not fit on the flash memory module. By grouping the identically configured VLANs, you can conserve space in the startup-config file so that it fits on the flash memory module.
- The virtual routing interface group feature is useful when you want to configure the same IP subnet address on all the port-based VLANs within a VLAN group. You can configure a virtual routing interface group only after you configure a VLAN group with the same ID. The virtual routing interface group automatically applies to the VLANs in the VLAN group that has the same ID and cannot be applied to other VLAN groups or to individual VLANs.
You can create up to 32 VLAN groups and 32 virtual routing interface groups. A virtual routing interface group always applies only to the VLANs in the VLAN group with the same ID.
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Depending on the size of the VLAN ID range you want to use for the VLAN group, you might need to allocate additional memory for VLANs. On Layer 3 Switches, if you allocate additional memory for VLANs, you also need to allocate the same amount of memory for virtual routing interfaces. This is true regardless of whether you use the virtual routing interface groups. To allocate additional memory, refer to
Allocating memory for more VLANs, more associated ports, or more virtual routing interfaces.
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