configuring cisco catalyst switch VTP modes

VTP (Vlan Trunking Protocol) modes are different ways a switch can be set to share or interact with VTP advertisements. The three modes are Server, client and Transparent.

Server mode is the default setting for Cisco catalyst switches. Within any VTP domain, there must contain at least one switch configured in server mode. When in this mode, the switch can be used to add, modify or delete VLAN related infrormation. These changes are then advertised to other switches in the same domain that are configured as either servers or clients. The receiving switches then compare the revision number from the received update and if the revision number is higher, then it changes its configuration

Client mode is simply a receiver of VTP information configured from a server. when in client mode, no changes can be mad to the switch.

Transparent mode is where a switch will not listen to VTP information being advertised but will pass on the information to other switches. It acts as a standalone device and any VLAN information can be configured.

Configuring the modes:

First we get into the vlan database.

SWITCH#vlan database

We can then type in the vtp command followed by a question mark to see the different options.


SWITCH(vlan)#vtp ?
client Set the device to client mode.
domain Set the name of the VTP administrative domain.
password Set the password for the VTP administrative domain.
pruning Set the administrative domain to permit pruning.
server Set the device to server mode.
transparent Set the device to transparent mode.
v2-mode Set the administrative domain to V2 mode.

for now we shall only concentrate on the three vtp mode options: Server, client and transparent.

To configure as a Server simply type in the vtp server command and you get a notification that the device is switching into server mode.

SWITCH(vlan)#vtp server
Setting device to VTP SERVER mode.

The same goes for configuring as a vtp client.

SWITCH(vlan)#vtp client
Setting device to VTP CLIENT mode.

as well as transparent mode.

SWITCH(vlan)#vtp transparent
Setting device to VTP TRANSPARENT mode

To save and exit into the vlan database, simply type in "exit".

SWITCH(vlan)#exit
APPLY completed.
Exiting....

To verify the VTP mode configured, we can use the "show vtp status" command.

SWITCH#sh vtp status
VTP Version : 2
Configuration Revision : 0
Maximum VLANs supported locally : 256
Number of existing VLANs : 7
VTP Operating Mode : Transparent
VTP Domain Name :
VTP Pruning Mode : Disabled
VTP V2 Mode : Disabled
VTP Traps Generation : Disabled
MD5 digest : 0x1A 0x47 0x70 0xB8 0xD1 0x2F 0x7E 0x32
Configuration last modified by 10.1.35.2 at 3-1-02 00:48:56


In this instance, the switch is in Transparent VTP operating mode.