802.1Q or dot1q Trunking Protocol Explained
This tutorial explains the IEEE 802.1Q or dot1q trunking protocol. Learn how IEEE 802.1Q encapsulates Ethernet frames.
802.1Q Trunking allows VLANs to span across multiple switches. Learn how this tagging protocol works and why it's essential for inter-switch communication.
VLAN Trunking Explained
Learn why VLAN trunks exist, how 802.1Q tagging works, the difference between ISL and 802.1Q , and how allowed VLAN lists and trunk negotiation function in Cisco networks.
Learn switching basics, VLANs, trunk ports, 802.1Q tagging and STP in one clear flow—perfect for beginners building real Layer 2 skills.
802.1Q Encapsulation Explained
This lesson explains what 802.1Q is and why we need it for trunk links between switches.
IEEE 802.1Q is the networking standard that defines VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) tagging on Ethernet frames. VLANs allow network administrators to segment a physical network into multiple logical networks, improving security, efficiency, and management.
Understanding 802.1Q Trunking
That's exactly where 802.1Q comes in. What is 802.1Q Trunking 802.1Q Trunking is an IEEE standard that allows multiple VLANs to travel over a single physical link. Each Ethernet frame is tagged with a VLAN ID, letting the receiving switch know which VLAN the frame belongs to.
Configure an 802.1Q trunk between Cisco switches: tag VLANs, set the native VLAN, prune the allowed list, and verify with show interfaces trunk.
IEEE 802.1Q
IEEE 802.1Q , often referred to as Dot1q, is the networking standard that supports virtual local area networking (VLANs) on an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet network. The standard defines a system of VLAN tagging for Ethernet frames and the accompanying procedures to be used by bridges and switches in handling such frames.
This lesson explains how 802.1Q tunneling works and how to configure it on Cisco IOS Catalyst Switches.