I've been going over and testing this vlan problem for a long time now and still can't get too far. I've read up a significant amount on how this should work and I'm mainly getting confused between Netgear and Cisco's interpretations of what each feature does. Here is a diagram of what I think I should have. Ideally, I have a GSM7324 switch with a whole class C cut up among it. This core switch feeds into (right now just one) layer 2 switch which has corresponding vlans. These switches talk to each other and out the gateway. The vlans right now can talk to each other via routing on the switch which is okay. I can do those ACLs after this step is completed. Here is an image of the basic structure:
http://157.238.136.5/cage-fixup.jpg The main problem is that I cannot get the two switches uplinked to each other. I need machines on vlan 17 to be able to talk to the layer 3 switch and therefore every other subnet on the layer 3 switch. If I uplink them as diagramed things start to act like a broadcast storm on the layer 3 switch. This shouldn't be the case because the ports that are uplinked are different and on different vlans. Netgear told me that there wasn't a feature like 'Cisco Trunking' on the switches so thats why the multiple uplinks. If there is a way to do it with one uplink cable that is obviously the preferred method. Everything on the layer 2 switch in vlan #3 can get to the layer 3 switch and the Internet. If I plug my laptop directly into vlan #17 on the layer3 switch that works as well. Let me know any ideas or thoughts on how I could have this wrong and make it right.
Thanks, Adam