Would you like to learn how to configure a trunk between an HP Switch and a Cisco Switch? In this tutorial, we are going to show you all the steps required to configure a trunk on an HP Switch 1910, 1920 or 5500  using the web interface and a Cisco Switch 2960 using the command-line.

Equipment list

Here you can find the list of equipment used to create this tutorial.

This link will also show the software list used to create this tutorial.

HP Switch Book

Despite having a good knowledge related to computer networks and even have some certifications on the subject, Luke, a 26-year-old IT analyst has just received a mission to deploy a new network using only HP switches.

HP Switch book

Follow Luke’s history and a step by step approach to a network project implementation created by a certified project management professional.

HP Switch Playlist:

On this page, we offer quick access to a list of videos related to HP Switch.

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Tutorial HP Switch - VLAN creation

First, you need to create a list of VLANS.

Open a browser software, enter the IP address of your Switch and access the HP Switch web interface.

HP Switch Login

On the prompt screen, enter the administrative login information.

Factory default access information:
Username: admin
Password: (no password)

After a successful login, the administrative menu will be displayed.

Access the Network menu, and select the VLAN option.

hp switch vlan menu

On the VLAN screen, select the Create tab on the top of the screen.

To create a new VLAN, enter the desired identification number and click on the Create button.

hp switch vlan creation

In our example, the following VLANS were created:  7, 100, 500 and 999.

The VLAN 1 already exists by default on an HP Switch.

Tutorial HP Switch - Trunk configuration

After finishing the VLAN creation, you need to configure a switch port as a trunk.

On the VLAN screen, select the Modify Port tab on the top of the screen.

To configure a switch port as a trunk, you will need to:

• Select the desired port.

• Select the Link Type option.

• Select the Trunk mode.

In our example, we configured the switch port 10 in trunk mode.

hp-switch-trunk-link-type

After configuring the switch port as a trunk, you need to associate a list of authorized VLANS.

To configure the list of authorized VLANS you need to:

• Select the desired port.

• Select the tagged membership type.

• Enter the ID of the desired VLAN or VLANS.

In our example, we authorized VLANS 7 and 999 to use this trunk.

HP switch trunk authorized vlan

Now, you need to set the default VLAN of the trunk.

To configure the trunk's default VLAN you need to:

• Select the desired port.

• Select the untagged membership type.

• Enter the ID of the desired VLAN

In our example, we configured VLAN 1 as the default VLAN to this trunk.

Every time this switch port receives a packet without any VLAN identification it will assume that the packet belongs to the default VLAN 1.

hp switch trunk default vlan

In the end, packets from VLAN 1, 7 and 999 are authorized to use this trunk.

You have successfully configured a switch port as a trunk.

Don’t forget to save your switch configuration.

Tutorial - Trunk on Cisco Switch

First, you need to access the console of your Cisco Switch.

In our example, we are going to use an Opensource software named Putty and a computer running Windows.

The Putty software is available on the putty.org website.

After finishing the download, run the software and wait for the following screen.

Putty windows

To access the console of a Cisco Switch model 2960 or 3750, you will need to select the Serial Connection category and use the following options:

• Connection type: Serial
• Serial line: COM1
• Speed: 9600

If COM1 does not work you will need to try to use COM2, COM3, COM4 or the next.

cisco switch terminal settings

Using either the console, telnet or ssh, connect to the command-line of your switch and log in with a user who has administrative privileges.

On the prompt screen, enter the administrative login information.

After a successful login, the console command-line will be displayed.

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Use the enable command to enter the privilege mode.

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Use the configure terminal command to enter the configuration mode.

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Create a new vlan, select an identification number and add a brief description.

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Access the interface configuration mode.

Set the Switch port as a trunk.

Add the list of authorized Vlans to use this trunk.

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In our example, the Switch port 40 was configured as a trunk.

The following Vlans were allowed to use this port as a trunk: 1, 7 and 999.

Vlan 1 is the default native VLAN of Cisco Switches.

Don’t forget to save your Switch trunk configuration

Copy to Clipboard

You have successfully created a new VLAN.

You have successfully associated a Switch port to a specific VLAN.

Now, you can connect the HP Switch and the Cisco Switch ports.