Deploying the Dell PowerConnect 8100 with the Cisco Catalyst
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Run the commands below to configure a trunk port on a single interface with the native VLAN being
configured for 2.
Cat6504E_1(config)#interface te2/6
Cat6504E_1(config-if)#switchport
Cat6504E_1(config-if)#switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
Cat6504E_1(config-if)#switchport trunk allowed vlan 100,101
Cat6504E_1(config-if)#switchport trunk native vlan 2
Cat6504E_1(config-if)#switchport mode trunk
Cat6504E_1(config-if)#no shutdown
Cat6504E_1(config-if)#exit
LACP provides a method of bundling several connections together as a logical link and provides a logical
link indicator for this set of connections. In addition, there may be a need to have additional
connectivity between two switches for throughput and redundancy. More than one connection can then
be bundled as a LAG (link aggregation group). With this LACP type LAG in place, if one or the other of
the switches were to crash but yet leave the physical link up, an LACP timeout would signal that the
link is disconnected. If LACP were not used in this situation, there would be no indication of the switch
on the other end malfunctioning.
An example of CLI necessary to create and assign port-channels (LAGs) is found on page 9 and 10. The
only note to remember is that the Cisco switches support a proprietary form of LAGs with the PaGP
feature that the Dell PowerConnect switch does not support.
Spanning tree protocol (STP) is a Layer 2 protocol that protects a network from loops and broadcast
storms. There are several spanning tree methods that can be implemented, but not all are compatible
with each other, from one equipment manufacturer to the next.
For example, standards-based switches like the Dell PowerConnect 8100 do not use Cisco proprietary
protocols (PVST, RPVST, CDP, VTP, and so on.). For this reason, it is important to understand a few
terms around standard and non-standard spanning tree.
STP (based on IEEE 802.1d) – Spanning Tree Protocol, or simply Spanning Tree. A
standards-based protocol that prevents physical loops and broadcast storms on a
network. Available on the Dell PowerConnect 8100.