13-13
Catalyst 2928 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-23389-01
Chapter 13 Configuring VLANs
Configuring VLAN Trunks
Trunk negotiation is managed by the Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP), which is a Point-to-Point
Protocol. However, some internetworking devices might forward DTP frames improperly, which could
cause misconfigurations.
To avoid this, you should configure interfaces connected to devices that do not support DTP to not
forward DTP frames, that is, to turn off DTP.
•
If you do not intend to trunk across those links, use the
switchport mode access
interface
configuration command to disable trunking.
•
To enable trunking to a device that does not support DTP, use the
switchport mode trunk
and
switchport nonegotiate
interface configuration commands to cause the interface to become a trunk
but to not generate DTP frames.
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.
•
Make sure the native VLAN for an IEEE 802.1Q trunk is the same on both ends of the trunk link. If
the native VLAN on one end of the trunk is different from the native VLAN on the other end,
spanning-tree loops might result.
Table 13-4
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.