Vlan database

[billyj1900]

I need to put 500 vlans into my switch database. Is there a faster way to add these many vlans to a database without typing
vlan.data
vlan 2
vlan 3
vlan 4
to vlan 500

 

[ADB100]

500 VLANs? This sounds so wrong, what is it you are trying to achieve? Although you can theoretically have 4094 VLANs there are limits

To answer the question though there isn't another way apart from manually typing it, however you can cut-and-paste. You could create a text file in Word or Excel and then paste it into the switch. As I said though it might not be possible anyway since some switches don't support anywhere near that number of VLANs or STP instances.

Andy

 

[billyj1900]

I am using a 3000 series switch that can handle a 1000 vlans. I just don't want to type 500 vlans but I think I will end up doing just that. The reason I need 500 vlans is to bill to rooms for 500 room hotel.

 

[lerdalt]

wow..that's a lot of vlans to try and keep track of.

I'd take ADB100's advice, use excel and you can make your life a little easier with some formulas.

Do you actually need each room in it's own vlan? Just seems odd to me.

 

[billyj1900]

Yeah I do need each room to have its own vlan. I am working with an old system. You mentioned using excel with some formulas. I never used excel I always would write a script using notepad.

 

[ADB100]

I assume you want to isolate each port so there is no communication between ports - i.e. a user in one room cannot connect to a user in another room, however both have access to the internet?

If this is the case I would look at private VLANs instead of separate VLANs per port. This makes it much easier to deploy DHCP - can you imagine, after creating the 500 VLANs you then need to create 500 DHCP scopes....

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/tk814/tk840/tsd_technology_support_sub-protocol_home.html

With private VLANs each port is isolated from all other ports except the promiscuous port (where the router is most likely).

Although a 3000 series switch (I assume 3550 or 3750?) can support up to 1000 VLAN's, it can only support 128 STP instances so this may be a limitation for you?

Andy

 

[lerdalt]

on to the excel thing, almost any spreadsheet will do the same thing.
In cell A1, type in the word vlan
In cell A2, type in the number of the first vlan number
In cell B1, type in the word vlan
In cell B2, type in "=a2+1" (if you are wanting to increment each vlan by 1.

hightlight cells B1 and B2 and select down as many rows as it takes, then press control+d for fill down.

You can then copy this into notepad, search and replace the tab for a space and paste into your switch.

But I'm with ADB, check to see if you can use private vlans.

 

[billyj1900]

Thanks for the information. I have a server that handles layer 3 issues like DHCP. The switch will just handle switchport trunk allowed vlan 1-500 through the trunk port.

 

[lerdalt]

but won't you have to create 500 dhcp scopes like ADB mentioned?

 

[billyj1900]

Also the server handles the vlan tagging to a merlot system which are connected to the rooms.

 

[billyj1900]

The server just have one DHCP scope. I have to manually tag each vlan to the room port.

 

[ADB100]

Is there some box that you install in each room that connects back to the switch on a trunk and then presents a port for the user to connect to? It sounds like a bad design to me, however without any knowledge of the Merlot product I can't really comment further.

Andy

 

[billyj1900]

You saved me a lot of time on the excel document. That was all I needed. Thanks for the help

 

[lerdalt]

Excel and editpadpro are my life saviors anymore. Since editpadpro will do regular expression matching.