VLAN Newbie, advice please

[SW2004]

With the help of tek-tips I've discovered I need to segment my growing network into seperate VLANs. However I'm stuck as where to start. I have managed switches that I can configure into seperate VLANs. I have a few questions.
1. I have one Windows domain, how will this be effected by a VLAN?
2. Will I need a seperate DHCP server for the VLAN?
3. I currently use the IP range 172.16.*.*, 255.255.0.0. Will I need to subnet this?
4. Anyone know of any good start guides?

Thanks
S

 

[computerhighguy]

1) No
2) No you can use the IP Helper command on the Intervlan Router (usually a layer 3 switch) so that only 1 Windows Server is the DHCP Server and can serve all VLANS.
3) Each VLAN needs it's own IP Strcture. You can always add onto the existing IP Sctructure.
4) No


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[Saugilsr]

You may want to look at this. It's a little outdated but I think the concept is what your looking for. I based my network segmentation to VLAN off of it.

http://www.lanarchitect.net/Articles/DHCP/index.htm

Hope it helps.

 

[SW2004]

Thanks for that guys, very useful.

S

 

[SW2004]

If I create multiple VLANs for my PC's say 250 PC's in each VLAN and I have all my servers in a seperate server VLAN, all routing is done via the central layer 3 switch. How does this reduce the broadcasts if all the servers are in a single vlan? I've noticed this appears to be a common design.

Thanks again.

 

[Saugilsr]

The broadcasts from the server vlan are only seen by the servers in that Vlan. Routers do not forward broadcasts. So when the core l3 switch is greeted with the broadcast from a vlan it doesn't pass it on to the other vlans.

http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=102157

 

[SW2004]

Thanks for the help so far.

Is it common in single site networks to have a single VLAN for the server farm, and seperate VLANs for each edge switch and have the large layer 3 switch at the centre route between them?

My aim is to reduce broadcast traffic, currently 30-48%. What's considered healthy?

Thanks guys.