Cisco Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module for HP p-Class BladeSystem Software Configuration Guide

9-16
Cisco Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module for HP p-Class BladeSystem Software Configuration Guide
380261-003
Chapter 9 Configuring VLANs
Configuring VLAN Trunks
Encapsulation Types
Table 9-5 lists the Ethernet trunk encapsulation types and keywords.
The trunking mode, the trunk encapsulation type, and the hardware capabilities of the two connected
interfaces decide whether a link becomes an ISL or IEEE 802.1Q trunk.
IEEE 802.1Q Configuration Considerations
The IEEE 802.1Q trunks impose these limitations on the trunking strategy for a network:
In a network of Cisco switches connected through IEEE 802.1Q trunks, the switches maintain one
spanning-tree instance for each VLAN allowed on the trunks. Non-Cisco devices might support one
spanning-tree instance for all VLANs.
When you connect a Cisco switch to a non-Cisco device through an IEEE 802.1Q trunk, the Cisco
switch combines the spanning-tree instance of the VLAN of the trunk with the spanning-tree
instance of the non-Cisco IEEE 802.1Q switch. However, spanning-tree information for each VLAN
is maintained by Cisco switches separated by a cloud of non-Cisco IEEE 802.1Q switches. The
non-Cisco IEEE 802.1Q cloud separating the Cisco switches is treated as a single trunk link between
the switches.
Table 9-4 Layer 2 Interface Modes
Mode Function
switchport mode access Puts the interface (access port) into permanent nontrunking mode and negotiates to
convert the link into a nontrunk link. The interface becomes a nontrunk interface
regardless of whether or not the neighboring interface is a trunk interface.
switchport mode dynamic auto Makes the interface able to convert the link to a trunk link. The interface becomes a trunk
interface if the neighboring interface is set to trunk or desirable mode. The default
switchport mode for all Ethernet interfaces is dynamic auto.
switchport mode dynamic
desirable
Makes the interface actively attempt to convert the link to a trunk link. The interface
becomes a trunk interface if the neighboring interface is set to trunk, desirable, or auto
mode.
switchport mode trunk Puts the interface into permanent trunking mode and negotiates to convert the
neighboring link into a trunk link. The interface becomes a trunk interface even if the
neighboring interface is not a trunk interface.
switchport nonegotiate Prevents the interface from generating DTP frames. You can use this command only
when the interface switchport mode is access or trunk. You must manually configure the
neighboring interface as a trunk interface to establish a trunk link.
Table 9-5 Ethernet Trunk Encapsulation Types
Encapsulation Function
switchport trunk encapsulation isl Specifies ISL encapsulation on the trunk link.
switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q Specifies IEEE 802.1Q encapsulation on the trunk link.
switchport trunk encapsulation negotiate Specifies that the interface negotiate with the neighboring interface to become
an ISL (preferred) or IEEE 802.1Q trunk, depending on the configuration and
capabilities of the neighboring interface. This is the default for the switch.