VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)

VLAN Management Challenge (1)

It is not difficult to add new VLAN for a small network

VLAN Management Challenge (2)

It is not easy to add a new VLAN to all of switches

What is VTP?

• VTP allows a network manager to configure a

switch so that it will propagate VLAN
configurations to other switches in the network.
• The switch can be configured in the role of a VTP
server or a VTP client.
• VTP only learns about normal-range VLANs
(VLAN IDs 1 to 1005).
• Extended-range VLANs (IDs greater than 1005)
are not supported by VTP.
VTP Overview (1)
• VTP allows a network manager to makes
changes on a switch that is configured as a VTP
server.
• Basically, the VTP server distributes and
synchronizes VLAN information to VTP-enabled
switches throughout the switched network,
which minimizes the problems caused by
incorrect configurations and configuration
inconsistencies.
• VTP stores VLAN configurations in the VLAN
database called vlan.dat.
VTP Overview (2)
VTP benefits
 VTP components (1)

• VTP Domain consists of one or more interconnected switches.

• All switches in a domain share VLAN configuration details using VTP
advertisements.
• A router or Layer 3 switch defines the boundary of each domain.
VTP components (2)
• VTP Advertisements - VTP uses a hierarchy of
advertisements to distribute and synchronize
VLAN configurations across the network.
VTP components (3)
• VTP Modes - A switch can be configured in one
of three modes: server, client, or transparent.
 VTP components (4)

• VTP Server - VTP servers advertise the VTP domain VLAN information to
other VTP-enabled switches in the same VTP domain.
• VTP servers store the VLAN information for the entire domain in
NVRAM.
• The server is where VLAN can created, deleted, or renamed for the
domain.
 VTP components (5)
• VTP Client - VTP clients function the same way as VTP servers, but you
cannot create, change, or delete VLANs on a VTP client.
• A VTP client only stores the VLAN information for the entire domain while
the switch is on.
• A switch reset deletes the VLAN information.
• You must configure VTP client mode on a switch.
 VTP components (6)
• VTP Transparent - Transparent switches forward VTP
advertisements to VTP clients and VTP servers.
• Transparent switches do not participate in VTP.
• VLANs that are created, renamed, or deleted on transparent
switches are local to that switch only.
VTP components (7)

• VTP Pruning-VTP pruning increases network

available bandwidth by restricting flooded traffic
to those trunk links that the traffic must use to
reach the destination devices.
• Without VTP pruning, a switch floods broadcast,
multicast, and unknown unicast traffic across all
trunk links within a VTP domain even though
receiving switches might discard them.
VTP components (8)
Default VTP configuration
VTP operation – VTP domain (1)

• VTP allows you to separate your network

into smaller management domains to help
reduce VLAN management.
• An additional benefit of configuring VTP
domains is that it limits the extent to which
configuration changes are propagated in
the network if an error occurs.
 VTP operation – VTP domain (2)
• A VTP domain consists of one switch or several interconnected
switches sharing the same VTP domain name.
• A switch can be a member of only one VTP domain at a time.
VTP operation – VTP domain (3)
• VTP Domain Name Propogation
• For a VTP server or client switch to participate in
a VTP-enabled network, it must be a part of the
same domain.
• When switches are in different VTP domains, they
do not exchange VTP messages.
• A VTP server propagates the VTP domain name to
all switches for you.
• Domain name propagation uses three VTP
components: servers, clients, and advertisements.
VTP operation – VTP domain (4)

Note: Cisco recommends that access to the domain name

configuration functions be protected by a password.
VTP operation – VTP advertising
(1)
VTP Frame Encapsulation

A VTP frame consists of a header field and a message field.

The VTP information is inserted into the data field of an
Ethernet frame
 VTP operation – VTP advertising
(2)

The Ethernet frame is then encapsulated as a 802.1Q trunk frame

(or ISL frame).
VTP operation – VTP advertising
(3)
• Each switch in the domain sends periodic
advertisements out each trunk port to a
reserved multicast address.
VTP operation – VTP advertising
(4)
VTP operation – VTP advertising
(5)
• Destination MAC address -This address is set to 01-00-
0C-CC-CC-CC, which is the reserved multicast address for
all VTP messages.

• LLC field-Logical link control (LLC) field contains a

destination service access point (DSAP) and a source
service access point (SSAP) set to the value of AA.

• SNAP field-Subnetwork Access Protocol (SNAP) field has

an OUI set to AAAA and type set to 2003.

• VTP header field- The contents vary depending on the

VTP message type-summary, subset, or request-but it
always contains these VTP fields:
VTP operation – VTP advertising
(6)
– Domain name- Identifies the administrative
domain for the switch.
– Domain name length- Length of the domain
name.
– Version- Set to either VTP 1, VTP 2, or VTP 3.
The Cisco 2960 switch only supports VTP 1
and VTP 2.
– Configuration revision number- The current
configuration revision number on this switch.
VTP operation – VTP advertising
(7)
• VTP message field-Varies depending
on the message type.
• VTP Message Contents
VTP Revision Number (1)

• The configuration revision number is a 32-bit

number that indicates the level of revision for a
VTP frame.
• The default configuration number for a switch is
zero.
• Each time a VLAN is added or removed, the
configuration revision number is incremented.
• Each VTP device tracks the VTP configuration
revision number that is assigned to it.
VTP Revision Number (2)
VTP Advertisements (1)

• Summary Advertisements
– The summary advertisement contains the VTP domain
name, the current revision number, and other VTP
configuration details.

• Summary advertisements are sent:

• Every 5 minutes by a VTP server or client to
inform neighboring VTP-enabled switches of the
current VTP configuration revision number for its
VTP domain
• Immediately after a configuration has been made
VTP Advertisements (2)

• Subset Advertisements - A subset advertisement

contains VLAN information.
• Changes that trigger the subset advertisement
include:
– Creating or deleting a VLAN
– Suspending or activating a VLAN
– Changing the name of a VLAN
– Changing the MTU of a VLAN
• It may take multiple subset advertisements to
fully update the VLAN information.
VTP Advertisements (3)
• Request Advertisements

• When a request advertisement is sent to a VTP server in the

same VTP domain, the VTP server responds by sending a
summary advertisement and then a subset advertisement.

• Request advertisements are sent if:

– The VTP domain name has been changed
– The switch receives a summary advertisement with a higher
configuration revision number than its own
– A subset advertisement message is missed for some reason
– The switch has been reset
VTP mode (1)
• Server Mode - In server mode, you can create, modify, and
delete VLANs for the entire VTP domain.
• VTP server mode is the default mode for a Cisco switch.
• VTP servers advertise their VLAN configurations to other
switches in the same VTP domain and synchronize their
VLAN configurations with other switches based on
advertisements received over trunk links.
• VTP servers keep track of updates through a configuration
revision number.
• Other switches in the same VTP domain compare their
configuration revision number with the revision number
received from a VTP server to see if they need to
synchronize their VLAN database.
VTP mode (2)
• Client Mode
• If a switch is in client mode, you cannot create,
change, or delete VLANs.
• In addition, the VLAN configuration information
that a VTP client switch receives from a VTP
server switch is stored in a VLAN database, not in
NVRAM.
• Consequently, VTP clients require less memory
than VTP servers.
• When a VTP client is shut down and restarted, it
sends a request advertisement to a VTP server for
updated VLAN configuration information.
VTP mode (3)
• Transparent Mode

• Switches configured in transparent mode forward VTP

advertisements that they receive on trunk ports to other
switches in the network.
• VTP transparent mode switches do not advertise their
VLAN configuration and do not synchronize their VLAN
configuration with any other switch.
• Configure a switch in VTP transparent mode when you
have VLAN configurations that have local significance and
should not be shared with the rest of the network.
VTP mode (4)
VTP Pruning (1)
• VTP pruning prevents unnecessary flooding of
broadcast information from one VLAN across all
trunks in a VTP domain.
• VTP pruning permits switches to negotiate which
VLANs are assigned to ports at the other end of
a trunk and, hence, prune the VLANs that are
not assigned to ports on the remote switch.
• Pruning is disabled by default.
• VTP pruning is enabled using the vtp pruning
global configuration command.
• You need to enable pruning on only one VTP
server switch in the domain.
VTP Pruning (2)
VTP Pruning (3)
VTP Pruning (4)
Configuring VTP – VTP Server
switches (1)
• Confirm that all of the switches you are going to configure
have been set to their default settings.
• Always reset the configuration revision number before
installing a previously configured switch into a VTP
domain.
– Not resetting the configuration revision number allows for
potential disruption in the VLAN configuration across the rest of
the switches in the VTP domain.
• Configure at least two VTP server switches in your
network.
– Because only server switches can create, delete, and modify
VLANs, you should make sure that you have one backup VTP
server in case the primary VTP server becomes disabled.
– If all the switches in the network are configured in VTP client
mode, you cannot create new VLANs on the network.
Configuring VTP – VTP Server
switches (2)
• Configure a VTP domain on the VTP server.
– Configuring the VTP domain on the first switch enables VTP to
start advertising VLAN information.
– Other switches connected through trunk links receive the VTP
domain information automatically through VTP advertisements.
• If there is an existing VTP domain, make sure that you
match the name exactly. VTP domain names are case-
sensitive.
• If you are configuring a VTP password, ensure that the
same password is set on all switches in the domain that
need to be able to exchange VTP information.
– Switches without a password or with the wrong password reject
VTP advertisements.
Configuring VTP – VTP Server
switches (3)
• Ensure that all switches are configured to use the same
VTP protocol version.
– VTP version 1 is not compatible with VTP version 2.
– By default, Cisco Catalyst 2960 switches run version 1 but are
capable of running version 2.
– When the VTP version is set to version 2, all version 2 capable
switches in the domain autoconfigure to use version 2 through
the VTP announcement process.
• Create the VLAN after you have enabled VTP on the VTP
server.
– VLANs created before you enable VTP are removed.
– Always ensure that trunk ports are configured to interconnect
switches in a VTP domain.
– VTP information is only exchanged on trunk ports.
Configuring VTP – VTP Client
switches
• As on the VTP server switch, confirm that the default settings are
present.
• Configure VTP client mode.
– Recall that the switch is not in VTP client mode by default. You have to
configure this mode.
• Configure trunks.
– VTP works over trunk links.
• Connect to a VTP server.
– When you connect to a VTP server or another VTP-enabled switch, it
takes a few moments for the various advertisements to make their way
back and forth to the VTP server.
• Verify VTP status.
– Before you begin configuring the access ports, confirm that the revision
mode and number of VLANs have been updated.
• Configure access ports. When a switch is in VTP client mode, you
cannot add new VLANs.
– You can only assign access ports to existing VLANs.
VTP configuration guideline
VTP Configuration topology
Configuration VTP steps –
Configure the VTP server (1)
Configure domain name
Configuration VTP steps –
Configure the VTP server (2)
Configure VTP version
Configuration VTP steps –
Configure the VTP server (3)
ADD VLAN / Trunk and verify
Configuration VTP steps –
Configure the VTP clients (1)
Configure VTP Mode: client
Configuration VTP steps –
Configure the VTP clients (2)
Verify VTP Status
Configuration VTP steps – Confirm
and connect (1)
Configuration VTP steps – Confirm
and connect (2)
Confirm VTP status
Configuration VTP steps – Confirm
and connect (3)
Connect to VTP Server
Troubleshooting VTP configurations
(1)
Troubleshooting VTP configurations
(2)
Troubleshooting VTP configurations
(3)
Troubleshooting VTP configurations
(4)
• Switches Set to VTP Client Mode
• By doing so, you lose all ability to create, delete, and
manage VLANs within your network environment.
• Because the VTP client switches do not store the VLAN
information in NVRAM, they need to refresh the VLAN
information after a reload.
Troubleshooting VTP configurations
(5)
Troubleshooting VTP configurations
(6)
Troubleshooting VTP configurations
(7)

Incorrect Revision Number

Managing VLAN on VTP servers (1)
Managing VLAN on VTP servers (2)

Configure new VLAN and Port

Managing VLAN on VTP servers (3)

Show VTP status

Managing VLAN on VTP servers (4)

Show interfaces trunk