Switchport Config - Trunk or Access?

[david.kelsen]

Hi,

Just wondering if Cisco has any recommendations around whether to configure the switchport as a trunk or as an access port for Lightweight Access Points?

We've been running some LAPs connected to trunk ports and some connected to access ports and we can't really see any difference.

We're guessing that the trunk port will allow 802.1p values to be carried in the frame, where an access port won't.

Can anyone provide any clarification or recommendations around this for us?

Cheers,

Dave.

[George Stefanick]

Leo,

LOL, yea my first few installs was trunks too ...

[Leo Laohoo]

I forget what code version the ap manager goes away, but you get the point.

The 5508 does not use AP-Manager. Optionally, you can have Dynamic AP-Manager.

[JPavonM]

Whenever you use LAPs in local mode, then is up to you to configure them on any access mode or trunk mode (with native VLAN other than VLAN 1 for security reasons).

If you use APs in flexconnect mode, again is up to you:

1. If you use just ONE locally forwarded WLAN (and AP shares same VLAN if the site is really small and don't make any sense to deploy subnets) then all traffic goes to the same VLAN so you can use access mode or trunk mode. BUT the best practice recommends to always use trunk ports in order to avoid issues like this have I discovered on the early stages of the C9800 codes, or any other future defect that could arise.
2. If you have multiple WLANs mapping to different VLANs then trunk mode is a must.

HTH

[mohamed orabi]

I think it depends on flex mode connection with the local switch or central switch in the case of flex mode with the central switch you can configure as access but if  flex mode with local switch it must be configurated as trunk,that right?