Basic Query on trunk and access ports

[mukundh86]

Hi all

I have a basic query regarding trunking. Is the connection between two switches always a trunk or is it based on number of VLANs passed between the two.

[Edison Ortiz]

It can be an access port but usually is configured as trunk because multiple Vlans are carried over these links.

Trunk is also needed if you have VTP Server/Client topology.

It can also be a routed port as another choice.

[Jon Marshall]

It is usually a trunk because if you have a dedicated management vlan then you need to pass at least 2 vlans maybe a lot more.

But there is no requiremet for it to be a trunk if you simply want all ports on the switch to be in the same vlan and you want to manage the switch with an IP from the vlan. Not recommended but it can be done.

For completeness you can also connect up switches with L3 routed links although again this is not as common as using trunks.

Jon

[mukundh86]

Thank you Jon and Edison for your inputs