LAN segment
A LAN segment is an installation-related subsection of a local area network (LAN) in which traffic takes place only between the stations that are located within the segment. Each individual LAN segment operates with the same access procedures as the entire local network and forms a self-contained collision domain.
Segmentation offers the advantage of load balancing because, when properly segmented, much of the traffic is confined to the LAN segment and does not load the entire local network. For example, in a company, one LAN segment may be designed for administration, another for production, and a third or fourth for research and technology. In this constellation, the individual subnets are not or only slightly burdened by the traffic of the other subnets.
Reducing the size of LAN segments leads to micro- segmentation, improves network security and supports each individual LAN segment with a high data rate.
The segment-oriented data traffic in the individual LAN segments is kept away from the rest of the network by internetworking components such as bridges or routers. If the network coupling takes place via bridges, then the path selection function is based on bridging, in the case of routers by means of routing. The coupling elements can increase the total throughput between the LAN segments to a multiple of the respective local transmission capacity.