What is the primary purpose of trunking on inter-switch links in VLAN-enabled networks?

What is the primary purpose of trunking on inter-switch links in VLAN-enabled networks?

• A. Carries traffic for multiple VLANs between switches using 802.1Q tagging
• B. Encrypts traffic between hosts
• C. Sets port speeds automatically
• D. Isolates each VLAN on a separate physical link

Answer: (A)

Trunking on inter-switch links exists to carry traffic for multiple VLANs over a single physical connection. This works by tagging frames with their VLAN ID (using 802.1Q tagging), so each switch can correctly determine which VLAN the frame belongs to as it moves between switches. This setup reduces cable clutter and ensures VLANs span across multiple switches while maintaining separation. It’s not about encrypting traffic, automatically setting port speeds, or isolating each VLAN on separate physical links—the last would defeat the purpose of a trunk by requiring individual links per VLAN.

Trunking on inter-switch links exists to carry traffic for multiple VLANs over a single physical connection. This works by tagging frames with their VLAN ID (using 802.1Q tagging), so each switch can correctly determine which VLAN the frame belongs to as it moves between switches. This setup reduces cable clutter and ensures VLANs span across multiple switches while maintaining separation. It’s not about encrypting traffic, automatically setting port speeds, or isolating each VLAN on separate physical links—the last would defeat the purpose of a trunk by requiring individual links per VLAN.