802.1Q Trunking Lab

Switching

802.1Q Trunking Lab

Overview

This lab demonstrates VLAN trunking using IEEE 802.1Q, enabling multiple VLANs to pass between switches over a single link.

Requirements

  • Connect two switches
  • Configure trunk ports on both switches
  • Allow VLAN traffic across switches

Steps

  1. Select interfaces connecting the two switches
  2. Configure trunk mode using 802.1Q encapsulation
  3. Allow VLANs 10 and 20 on trunk links
  4. Save configuration on both switches

Solution

  1. Step 1: Configured switch ports as trunk using switchport mode trunk
  2. Step 2: Enabled 802.1Q encapsulation on trunk interfaces
  3. Step 3: Allowed VLANs 10 and 20 on trunk links
  4. Step 4: Verified trunk status using show interfaces trunk
  5. Step 5: Confirmed VLAN traffic is passing between switches

Verification

  • Trunk link is up and operational
  • Allowed VLANs 10 and 20 are visible on trunk
  • Inter-switch VLAN communication is successful
  • No native VLAN mismatch detected

Notes

  • 802.1Q is the standard VLAN tagging protocol
  • Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs simultaneously
  • Native VLAN should match on both sides to avoid issues