Vtp Modes; Vtp Advertisements - Cisco Catalyst 2950 Software Configuration Manual

Chapter 14 Configuring VTP

VTP Modes

You can configure a supported switch to be in one of the VTP modes listed in
Table 14-1 VTP Modes
VTP Mode Description
VTP server In VTP server mode, you can create, modify, and delete VLANs and specify other configuration parameters
(such as the VTP version) for the entire VTP domain. 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.
In VTP server mode, VLAN configurations are saved in nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM). VTP server is the
default mode.
VTP client A VTP client behaves like a VTP server, but you cannot create, change, or delete VLANs on a VTP client.
In VTP client mode, VLAN configurations are not saved in NVRAM.
VTP transparent VTP transparent switches do not participate in VTP. A VTP transparent switch does not advertise its VLAN
configuration and does not synchronize its VLAN configuration based on received advertisements.
However, in VTP version 2, transparent switches do forward VTP advertisements that they receive from
other switches from their trunk interfaces. You can create, modify, and delete VLANs on a switch in VTP
transparent mode. The switch must be in VTP transparent mode when you create extended-range VLANs.
See the
When the switch is in VTP transparent mode, the VTP and VLAN configurations are saved in the switch
running configuration, but they are not advertised to other switches. You can save the configuration to the
switch startup configuration file by entering the copy running-config startup-config privileged EXEC
command.
When the network is configured with more than the maximum 250 VLANs, the switch automatically
changes from VTP server or client mode to VTP transparent mode. The switch then operates with the
VLAN configuration that preceded the one that sent it into transparent mode.

VTP Advertisements

Each switch in the VTP domain sends periodic global configuration advertisements from each trunk port
to a reserved multicast address. Neighboring switches receive these advertisements and update their VTP
and VLAN configurations as necessary.
Because trunk ports send and receive VTP advertisements, you must ensure that at least one trunk port
Note
is configured on the switch and that this trunk port is connected to the trunk port of a second switch.
Otherwise, the switch cannot receive any VTP advertisements. For more information on trunk ports, see
the
VTP advertisements distribute this global domain information:
•
•
•
78-11380-04
"Configuring Extended-Range VLANs" section on page
"Configuring VLAN Trunks" section on page
VTP domain name
VTP configuration revision number
Update identity and update timestamp
13-14.
13-18.
Catalyst 2950 Desktop Switch Software Configuration Guide
Understanding VTP
Table 14-1.
14-3