Transport multiple VLans to Cisco 3550 Switch

[Schwiddy]

Hi everybody,

I need to connect a Cisco 3550 switch to a 3COM SS II 9300 switch. I want multiple VLans to traverse this link. I know how to configure the Cisco Trunk, but how do I have to configure the 3COM? As far as I know a Trunk in 3COM is a channel in Cisco --> thats not what I want. How is a "Cisco trunk" called on 3COM? Is this possible?

Thx,
Marcus

 

[hinterweltler]

It's an aggregated link and you can configure it for multiple VLANs.

 

[ADB100]

Marcus

A 3Com 'Trunk' is what Cisco term an 'EtherChannel' - this won't work as both are Proprietary. I am assuming this isn't what you want to do? What you want to do is create a VLAN Trunk (or 'tagged' link) between the 3Com switch and the Cisco 3550. You will have to use 802.1q (dot1q) as this is the only VLAN tagging scheme on the 3Com switch, you will also have to force the Cisco switch to do Trunk on the interface:

Interface GigabitEthernet0/0
switchport
switchport mode trunk
switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport trunk allowed vlan xx,xx,xx
switchport trunk native vlan xxx

Make sure you have the same Native VLAN either side (default is VLAN 1). The 3Com switch is either Web managed or through the command line, command line config should be:

bridge, vlan, create (b v c) - create the VLANs you need.

bridge, vlan , addport (b v a) add VLANs to the 'Tagged' port between the 2 switches. You have to do this for each VLAN and select 802.1q tagging. To set the correct Native VLAN you need to add one VLAN without 802.1q tagging (you can only add one VLAN without tagging anyway).

Hope this helps

Andy