What is the main function of VLAN Trunking?

The main function of VLAN Trunking is to combine traffic from multiple VLANs into a single connection or link, allowing for the efficient use of network resources. This is particularly useful in environments where multiple virtual LANs are configured to segregate different types of network traffic. By using trunking, switches can carry the traffic of multiple VLANs over one physical connection, which reduces the number of physical cables needed and simplifies network management.

When VLAN trunking is implemented, the devices use tagging protocols (like IEEE 802.1Q) to identify which VLAN each packet belongs to as it travels along the trunk line. This ensures that data can be sent and received across different segments of the network without confusion, maintaining the separation and integrity of the traffic for each VLAN.

This functionality is crucial for organizations that need to optimize their networking infrastructure while ensuring that the segmentation of traffic for security or performance reasons is maintained.