Trunking

[maxmaxmax]

I have 2 cisco switches that are on their own separate subnets and I want to connect them via trunking. Is this possible if neither switches are layer 3? Thanks.

[Georg Pauwen]

Hello,

you can connect the switches via trunking, but the subnets will not be able to talk to each other without some Layer 3 device.

Regards,

Georg

[maxmaxmax]

Thanks - would I still need a layer 3 device if I configured vlans on a single switch (switch only has layer2)

[bfrelich]

You always need a layer 3 device when trying to communicate across subnets(vlans).

Switch1(vlan1) trunk Switch2(vlan1)

-------------- ========= --------------- === Router1

Switch1(vlan2) link Switch2(vlan2)

Trunking just allows the vlans to be spanned across two switches. So a device on vlan1 that sends a broadcast out to its subnet another device on vlan1 on the other switch will see that traffic.

[bfrelich]

Sorry the little diagram was sooo much prettier before I hit the post button. Lesson learned. ;-)

[ferro]

Hi,

when it comes to IP its a layer 3 so u need a router or a L3 switch in both cases (vlans on same switch or different switches) to perform routing between different vlans

regards,

Hani Farouk