Final answer:
Each store in a shopping center can be given a private logical network via virtual networking techniques, specifically through the use of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). VLANs separate network traffic and create isolated networks within the same physical infrastructure, allowing for security and traffic management tailored to each store's needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer how virtual networking can be used to give each store a private logical network within a larger shopping centre, consider what virtual networking entails. Virtual networking allows multiple independent networks to coexist on the same physical network infrastructure. Think of it like creating invisible boundaries or separate channels within a large, shared network that keep each store's data traffic private and secure.
Each small store within the shopping centre is assigned a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). VLANs are a type of virtual networking technique that separates network traffic at the data link layer (Layer 2). They enable network segmentation and effectively create smaller, isolated networks within the larger physical network. The physical network infrastructure, such as switches and routers, supports these VLANs by tagging the network traffic with VLAN IDs. This tagging tells the network equipment to treat the traffic as though it is on a separate network, even though the hardware is shared.
Administrators can configure network hardware to recognize various VLAN tags, ensuring that devices within each store's VLAN can communicate with each other but not with devices in other VLANs, unless specifically permitted. This provides security and traffic management benefits, as each store's network can be tailored to the specific needs and policies of that business.