How to configure Trunking between a

Cisco Catalyst and a 3Com

SuperStack?
Yasir IrfanProfile: Yasir Irfan

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