Optimizing private virtual local area networks (VLANs)

A network device provided in a private virtual local area network (VLAN), the network device comprising:

• a memory to store a plurality of instructions;
• and
• a processor to execute the plurality of instructions in the memory to:
• receive a first packet on a particular port of a plurality of private VLAN ports of the network device,
• assign a classified VLAN signature to the first packet,
• the classified VLAN signature assigned to the first packet including information identifying a classified VLAN associated with the particular port,
• assign a primary VLAN signature to the first packet,
• the primary VLAN signature assigned to the first packet including information identifying a primary VLAN of the private VLAN, and
• the classified VLAN being the primary VLAN or a secondary VLAN,
• store, in a single media access control (MAC) address table, a MAC address of the first packet and the classified VLAN signature assigned to the first packet,
• the MAC address of the first packet including a destination MAC address of the first packet,
• receive a second packet,
• determine whether a signature of a MAC address entry, in the MAC address table, matches a classified VLAN signature assigned to the second packet, and
• forward, based on the MAC address entry, the second packet toward a destination when the signature of the MAC address entry matches the classified VLAN signature assigned to the second packet.

A non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

• one or more instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a network device, cause the at least one processor to:
• receive a first packet on a particular port of a plurality of private virtual local area network (VLAN) ports of the network device;
• assign a classified VLAN signature to the first packet,
• the classified VLAN signature assigned to the first packet including information identifying a classified VLAN associated with the particular port;
• assign a primary VLAN signature to the first packet,
• the primary VLAN signature assigned to the first packet including information identifying a primary VLAN associated with the network device, and
• the classified VLAN being the primary VLAN or a secondary VLAN;
• store, in a single media access control (MAC) address table, a MAC address of the first packet and the classified VLAN signature assigned to the first packet;
• receive a second packet;
• determine whether a MAC address of the second packet matches a MAC address entry in the MAC address table;
• and
• forward the second packet to a classified VLAN when the MAC address of the second packet does not match the MAC address entry in the MAC address table.