If a switchport is administratively set to static access, what is the expected operational mode?

When a switchport is administratively set to static access, it is explicitly configured to operate in access mode. This means that the port will be used to connect devices that don't require VLAN tagging, such as end-user devices like computers or printers, and will belong to a single VLAN.

In static access mode, the switchport does not negotiate its mode with other devices, as it is specifically assigned to a designated VLAN and will accept only untagged frames associated with that VLAN. The traffic on a static access port will be handled without VLAN tagging, which is unlike trunk ports that can carry traffic from multiple VLANs and require additional configuration for VLAN identification.

This configuration provides simplicity and predictability in a network environment since the administrator has explicitly defined that the port will only handle traffic for one specified VLAN. As a result, operational activities like VLAN traffic management and security features can be easily implemented on access ports.