what does n-802.1q mean under trunking

[mahesh18]

Hi all,

I have 3550 switch where i have enabled trunk on port fa0/1

Switch#sh int trunk

Port        Mode             Encapsulation  Status        Native vlan
Fa0/1       desirable        n-802.1q       trunking      1******************

Port        Vlans allowed on trunk
Fa0/1               1-4094

Port                Vlans allowed and active in management domain
Fa0/1               1

Port                Vlans in spanning tree forwarding state and not pruned
Fa0/1 

Nei switch is 2950 and it does not show n-802.1q trunking it just shows  802.1q

2950T2#sh int trunk

Port        Mode         Encapsulation  Status        Native vlan
Fa0/1       desirable          802.1q         trunking      1

My question is why switch 3550 shows n-802.1q?

many thanks

mahesh

[glen.grant · Accepted solution]

   It means it  "negotiated"  the trunking encapsulation type because it was not explicitly set in the config . If you actually put the "switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q"  on the switchport , that "n" will disappear.  When using desirable to set trunks it will negotiate on its own.

[mahesh18]

Many thanks Glen again for explaining me about that.

mahesh