I am writing this article to answer the question  for establishing the trunking between a Cisco Catalyst Switch and a 3Com Super Stack Switch in ITKE community.

The goal of the article is show the user how to configure an inter operable trunk port in both Cisco and 3 Com Switch. As far as trunking concepts are concerned I did posted an article in ITKE blog comparing the HP Procurve and a Cisco Catalyst Switches which help to understand the trunking methodologies applied in 3 Com and Cisco Switches.

In order understand the configuration process easily I present a scenario, based on this scenario we will configure the Cisco and 3 Com Switches to meet the objectives.

In this example 

·         A Cisco Catalyst Switch is connected to a 3-Com Super Stack 4200 Switch (3-Com Super stack 3300 configuration is also available as the configuration process defers in a 3300 Switch)) using a port fast /Giga Ethernet 1 in both the Switches.

·         Create two VLANS locally in both the Cisco Catalyst Switch and a 3-Com Super Stack 4200.

1.       VLAN 100 – For Workstations (named PCS).

2.       VLAN 200- For Servers and Management Devices (Named MANG).

·         Configure fast Ethernet 0/1 on both the Cisco Catalyst Switch and a 3-Com Super Stack 4200 as 802.1 q trunking port.

Cisco Catalyst Switch Configuration Example

Task 1 – Create VLANS

ITKE-Cisco#configure t

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

ITKE-Cisco(config)#vlan 100

ITKE-Cisco(config-vlan)#name PCS   

ITKE-Cisco(config-vlan)#exit

ITKE-Cisco(config)#vlan 200

ITKE-Cisco(config-vlan)#name MANG

Task 2 – Configure the port fastethernet 0/1 as 802.1 q trunk port.

ITKE-Cisco(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#description Connected to 3-COM Switch

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#switchport mode trunk

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#no shutdown

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#

Task 3 – Configure the ports fastethernet 0/5 for VLAN 100 and fastethernet 0/10 for VLAN 200.

ITKE-Cisco(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/5

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#description Connected to PC

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#switchport mode access

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#switchport access vlan 100

ITKE-Cisco(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/10

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#description Connected to SERVER

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#switchport mode access

ITKE-Cisco(config-if)#switchport access vlan 200

3-Com Super Stack 4200 Switch Configuration Example (Configuration steps are as per the 3-Com Advance configuration manual – not tested).

Task 1 – Create VLANS and add ports Giga Ethernet 0/5 for VLAN 100 and Giga Ethernet 0/10 for VLAN 200

<SwitchB> system-view

[SwitchB] vlan 100

[SwitchB-vlan100] description PCS

[SwitchB-vlan100] port GigabitEthernet 1/0/5

[SwitchB-vlan100] quit

Create VLAN 200, and add GigabitEthernet1/0/10 to VLAN 200.

[SwitchB] vlan 200

[SwitchB-vlan200] description MANG

[SwitchB-vlan200] port GigabitEthernet 1/0/10

[SwitchB-vlan200] quit

Task 2 – Configure the port Gigaethernet 1/0/1 as a trunk port.

[SwitchB] interface GigabitEthernet 1/0/1

[SwitchB-GigabitEthernet1/0/1] port link-type trunk

3-Com Super Stack 3300 Switch Configuration Example.

Task 1 – Create VLANS

Select menu option (bridge/vlan): create

Select VLAN ID (2-4094)[3]: 100

Enter VLAN Name [VLAN 10]: PCS

Select menu option (bridge/vlan): create

Select VLAN ID (2-4094)[3]: 200

Enter VLAN Name [VLAN 11]: MANG

Task 2 – Configure the port fastethernet 0/1 as 802.1 q trunk port

Select VLAN ID (1-2,) [1]: 100 – 200

Select bridge ports (AL1-AL4,unit:port…,?): 1:1

Enter tag type (untagged,tagged): tagged

Task 3 – Configure the ports Giga Ethernet 0/5 for VLAN 100 and Giga Ethernet 0/10 for VLAN 200

Select menu option (bridge/vlan/modify): add

Select VLAN ID (1-2,)[1]: 100

Select bridge ports (AL1-AL4,unit:port…,?): 1:5

Enter tag type (untagged, tagged): untagged

Select menu option (bridge/vlan/modify): add

Select VLAN ID (1-2,)[1]: 200

Select bridge ports (AL1-AL4,unit:port…,?): 1:10

Enter tag type (untagged, tagged): untagged