What command is used to configure trunking encapsulation type on a switch?

The command used to configure trunking encapsulation type on a switch is "switchport trunk encapsulation." This command is essential in environments where different encapsulation methods may be in use, such as IEEE 802.1Q or Cisco's proprietary ISL (Inter-Switch Link). When configuring a trunk port, specifying the encapsulation type allows the switch to understand how to encapsulate and interpret VLAN information on the frames as they traverse the trunk link.

This command is particularly significant in mixed vendor environments, where interoperability between different switches may be required and clarification of the encapsulation method becomes critical. Additionally, once the encapsulation is set, it enables the switch to correctly process frame tagging and effectively manage VLANs across the trunk link.

Other commands mentioned are more targeted towards setting the operational mode of the switch port or managing VLAN assignments, but they do not specify encapsulation types. For instance, while "switchport trunk mode" activates the port as a trunk, it doesn't set the encapsulation method. Similarly, "switchport access vlan" is used to assign a VLAN to an access port, and "switchport mode dynamic" allows the switch to automatically negotiate trunking status but does not involve encapsulation details. Understanding which command affects encapsulation