Trunking recommendation

[gplouffe]

I would like to know what Cisco recommends regarding trunking configuration..

Should I use the command switchport mode trunk or let the ports negotiate between them.

Could you explain the difference.

Thanks

Gilles

[bvsnarayana03]

Some people prefer to have trunking on by manual methods & some people who'll leave it to negotiate.

you may want to leave the ports in desirable state to let the trunk negotiate.

[Jon Marshall]

Gilles

From Cisco best practices doc for 4500/6500 IOS

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Cisco recommends an explicit trunk mode configuration of dynamic desirable at both ends. This mode is the default mode. In this mode, network operators can trust syslog and command-line status messages that a port is up and trunking. This mode is different from on mode, which can make a port appear up even though the neighbor is misconfigured. In addition, desirable mode trunks provide stability in situations in which one side of the link cannot become a trunk or drops the trunk state

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Full link:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps700/products_white_paper09186a00801b49a4.shtml

Jon