Tagged or Untagged Port for a IP phone server

YiHsien
YiHsien Posts: 25  Freshman Member
10 Comments First Anniversary

Hi all,

My office has a NEC SL2100 phone system, and we have created a VLAN (VLAN ID=2) for it.

All IP phone are at tagged port and the phone server is at a untagged port with PVID=2. And this server's port is excluded/prohibited from all other VLANs.

I found that the phone cannot connect to its server if I change the server's port from untagged to tagged. I am just so curious that why the connection will only work when server's port is untagged. I thought it will work no matter it is a tagged or untagged port.

Could anyone clarify this for me?

Thank you very much.

All Replies

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 2,080  Zyxel Employee
    250 Answers Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Third Anniversary 1000 Comments

    Hi @YiHsien,

    According to your result I found that the phone cannot connect to its server if I change the server's port from untagged to tagged, It seems your server is a VLAN-aware device that has a VLAN 2 interface. If the server receives a packet without a VLAN tag, it will not be sent to VLAN 2 interface but to another interface without VLAN.

    Zyxel Melen


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  • YiHsien
    YiHsien Posts: 25  Freshman Member
    10 Comments First Anniversary

    Thanks Melen,

    Our server works with untagged port.

    I am confused that why a a VLAN-aware device will only work under a untagged port? (it doesn't work under a tagged port)

    Thanks again.

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 2,080  Zyxel Employee
    250 Answers Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Third Anniversary 1000 Comments

    Hi @YiHsien,

    Please allow me to rephrase my previous explanation since I misinterpreted your description. Since your phone can reach the phone server when the switch port is untagged, this seems your server is a VLAN-unaware device. When it receives a packet with a VLAN tag, it will ignore this packet. If you want the phone server to handle the VLAN tag packet, the server's NIC needs to support VLAN.

    Zyxel Melen


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  • YiHsien
    YiHsien Posts: 25  Freshman Member
    10 Comments First Anniversary

    Hi Melan,

    Thank you for reply.

    Do you mean since the server is a VLAN-unaware device, it can only be connected to a untagged port (because if it receives a packet with a VLAN tag, that packet will be ignored so the connection will fail)?

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 2,080  Zyxel Employee
    250 Answers Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Third Anniversary 1000 Comments

    Hi @YiHsien,

    Yes, the server seems like a VLAN-unaware device, so, it can only be connected to an untagged port.

    Zyxel Melen


    Don't miss this great chance to upgrade your Nebula org. for free!