What is VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol)

VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol)VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol)

VTP  is a Cisco proprietary protocol that allows for the dynamic sharing of VLAN information between switches.VTP  is a Cisco proprietary protocol that allows for the dynamic sharing of VLAN information between switches.

VTP allows network administrators to configure VLANs on a single switch and have that information automatically propagate to other switches in the network. VTP allows network administrators to configure VLANs on a single switch and have that information automatically propagate to other switches in the network.

This makes it easier to maintain a consistent VLAN configuration throughout the network and helps to reduce the potential for errors or inconsistencies.This makes it easier to maintain a consistent VLAN configuration throughout the network and helps to reduce the potential for errors or inconsistencies.

Here are the basic commands to configure VTP on a Cisco switch:Here are the basic commands to configure VTP on a Cisco switch:

1. Set the VTP mode:

• Server mode: Allows the switch to create, modify, and delete VLANs and share this information with other switches.

• Client mode: Allows the switch to receive VLAN information from a VTP server but does not allow the switch to make any changes to the VLAN database.

• Transparent mode: Allows the switch to forward VTP messages but does not participate in VTP domain management.

1. Set the VTP domain name:

• The domain name must match on all switches in the VTP domain.

1. Set the VTP password (optional):

• The password must match on all switches in the VTP domain.

1. Enable VTP pruning (optional):

• VTP pruning prevents the flooding of broadcast traffic in VLANs that are not needed on a particular trunk link.

1. Configure VLANs (optional):

• You can create VLANs manually or allow VTP to dynamically create them.

1. Configure the VTP ver sion (optional):

• By default, Cisco switches use version 1. You can also use version 2, which includes additional features such as support for extended VLANs.

Note: 

Remember to save the configuration changes with the  command.