What is difference between VACL & ACL?

VACL and ACL both stand for Access Control Lists, but they serve different purposes within networking.

ACL (Access Control List):

• An ACL is a set of rules defined on a router or a switch to control the traffic entering or exiting an interface.
• ACLs are used to filter traffic based on various criteria such as source IP address, destination IP address, protocol, port numbers, etc.
• ACLs are commonly used for controlling access to network resources, implementing security policies, and managing traffic flow within a network.

VACL (VLAN Access Control List):

• VACLs are used in VLAN environments to control traffic between VLANs.
• They are applied within a VLAN and allow administrators to filter traffic between different VLANs on a Layer 2 switch.
• VACLs are typically used when more granular control over traffic within a VLAN is needed, beyond what can be achieved with standard ACLs applied to router interfaces.
• VACLs can be used to filter traffic between VLANs on the same switch without the need for the traffic to leave the switch and be processed by a router.

In summary, ACLs are used for general traffic filtering on routers and switches, whereas VACLs are specifically designed for controlling traffic between VLANs on Layer 2 switches.