How to configure VTP Client and Server?

VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) is the protocol that propagates the information about which VLANs exist from one switch to another switch. If VTP did not provide this information, VLANs would have to be created on all switches individually in the network.

VTP is a Cisco proprietary protocol. The default mode of a switch is configured as VTP server. In any case, the server services are turned off, use the following command to turn it back on as VTP server.

SwitchA#vlan database

SwitchA(vlan)#vtp server

SwitchA(vlan)#exit

First create multiple VLANs with name, assign multiple ports to them then create 802.1q trunk link between the two switches to allow communication between VLANs.

To create a VLAN, first enter global configuration mode to run the following commands. Configuration to create VLAN 2 and 3 on switch A (VTP server)

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal

SwitchA(config)#vlan 2

SwitchA(config)#vlan 2 name marketing

SwitchA(config)#vlan 3

SwitchA(config)#vlan 3 name management

SwitchA(config)#exit

Now assigning the ports 2 and 3 to VLAN 2, it must be done from the interface mode. Enter the following commands to add port 2 and 3 to VLAN 2.

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/2

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 2

SwitchA(config-if)#exit

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/3

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 2

SwitchA(config-if)#exit

Now assigning the ports 4 and 5 to VLAN 3, enter the following commands to add port 4 and 5 to VLAN 3.

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/4

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 3

SwitchA(config-if)#exit

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/5

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport access vlan 3

SwitchA(config-if)#exit

Configuration of VTP client on switch B

SwitchB#vlan database

SwitchB(vlan)#vtp client

SwitchB(vlan)#vtp domain group1

SwitchB(vlan)#exit

Trunking with 802.1q

Now create 802.1q trunk link between the two switches to allow communication between

VLANs.

On both switches, SwitchA and SwitchB type the following command with 802.1q at the fastethernet 0/1 interface.

SwitchA(config)#configure terminal

SwitchA(config)#interface fastethernet 0/1

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport mode trunk

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q

SwitchA(config-if)#end

SwitchB(config)#interface fastethernet 0/1

SwitchB(config-if)#switchport mode trunk

SwitchA(config-if)#switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q

SwitchB(config-if)#end

To verify that fastethernet 0/1 has been established as trunk port, type the show interface fastethernet 0/1 switchport at the privileged EXEC mode.

Although the VLAN definitions have migrated to the switch B using VTP, but it is necessary to assign ports to these VLANs on switch B.

Now assigning the ports 2 and 3 to VLAN 2, it must be done from the interface mode. Enter the following commands to add port 2 and 3 to VLAN 2.

SwitchB(config)#configure terminal

SwitchB(config)#interface fastethernet 0/2

SwitchB(config-if)#switchport access vlan 2

SwitchB(config-if)#exit

SwitchB(config)#interface fastethernet 0/3

SwitchB(config-if)#switchport access vlan 2

SwitchB(config-if)#exit

Now assigning the ports 4 and 5 to VLAN 3, enter the following commands to add port 4 and 5 to VLAN 3.

SwitchB(config)#configure terminal

SwitchB(config)#interface fastethernet 0/4

SwitchB(config-if)#switchport access vlan 3

SwitchB(config-if)#exit

SwitchB(config)#interface fastethernet 0/5

SwitchB(config-if)#switchport access vlan 3

SwitchB(config-if)#exit