show vtp status
Displays VTP operational mode, domain, version, and revision number for VLAN sync verification.
Definition: show vtp status is a Cisco IOS privileged exec command. Displays VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) configuration and status, including the VTP mode, domain name, version, configuration revision number, number of VLANs, and last update information. Essential for verifying VTP configuration and troubleshooting VLAN synchronization issues.
show vtp statusWhen to Use This Command
- Verifying VTP mode (server/client/transparent) and domain name.
- Checking the configuration revision number to understand VLAN sync state.
- Troubleshooting VLANs not propagating between switches.
- Confirming VTP password is configured (shows MD5 digest without revealing password).
Command Examples
Show VTP status on a server switch
SW1# show vtp statusVTP Version capable : 1 to 3 VTP version running : 2 VTP Domain Name : COURSEIVA VTP Pruning Mode : Disabled VTP Traps Generation : Disabled Device ID : 0017.5afd.0100 Feature VLAN: ----------- VTP Operating Mode : Server Maximum VLANs supported locally : 1005 Number of existing VLANs : 8 Configuration Revision : 5 MD5 digest : 0x6B 0x44 ...
Key fields: VTPv2 running, domain is COURSEIVA, operating as Server, 8 VLANs exist (including the defaults), revision 5. The MD5 digest changes when VLANs are modified — clients compare this to decide if they need to sync.
Client switch after VTP sync
SW2# show vtp statusVTP Operating Mode : Client Configuration Revision : 5 Number of existing VLANs : 8
Client's revision matches the server (5) and has the same 8 VLANs — VTP synchronization was successful.
Understanding the Output
Critical fields: Operating Mode, Domain Name, Configuration Revision, Number of VLANs. A client with a lower revision than the server will sync up automatically on the next VTP advertisement. If revisions match but VLANs don't, check the VTP domain name (case-sensitive mismatch is common).
If MD5 digest shows a non-zero value, a VTP password is configured.
CCNA Exam Tips
CCNA exam tip: The Configuration Revision number is the most critical field — highest revision wins in VTP. A new switch with revision > 0 can overwrite the entire VLAN DB.
CCNA exam tip: To safely add a new switch, reset its revision to 0 by changing the domain name twice ('domain temp', then 'domain original').
CCNA exam tip: 'Number of existing VLANs' includes VLANs 1, 1002-1005 (defaults) — a fresh switch shows 5.
CCNA exam tip: VTP mode 'off' appears in VTPv3 only — in v1/v2, the lowest isolation is 'transparent'.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Overlooking the revision number when adding a new switch — if it's higher than the production switches, it will overwrite VLANs.
Mistake 2: Misreading 'Number of existing VLANs' — VLANs 1 and 1002-1005 are always present by default (5 VLANs minimum).
Mistake 3: Checking show vtp status instead of show vlan brief when troubleshooting missing VLANs — VTP status shows sync health, not which specific VLANs exist.
show vtp status vs vtp mode [server|client|transparent]
Both commands are related to VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) but serve distinct purposes: 'show vtp status' is a verification command to display current VTP settings, while 'vtp mode' is a configuration command to set the VTP operational mode. They are often used together when deploying or troubleshooting VTP.
| Aspect | show vtp status | vtp mode [server|client|transparent] |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration Mode | Privileged EXEC (#) | Global Configuration (config)# |
| Function | Display VTP parameters and status | Set VTP mode (server/client/transparent) |
| Impact on Switch | Read-only; no configuration changes | Modifies running-config and takes effect immediately |
| Persistence Across Reboot | Not persistent (no config change) | Persists if saved to startup-config |
| Dependency | Works without prior VTP configuration (shows defaults) | Requires consideration of domain name and version for full effect |
| Typical Use Case | Troubleshooting VLAN synchronization issues | Initial VTP setup or changing switch role |
Use show vtp status when you need to verify current VTP domain, mode, revision number, and last update to diagnose VLAN propagation problems.
Use vtp mode [server|client|transparent] when you need to change the VTP role of a switch to enable or disable VLAN advertisement and synchronization.
Related Commands
vtp domain [name]
Sets the VTP administrative domain name. Switches only synchronize VLAN databases with other switches in the same VTP domain. The domain name is case-sensitive.
vtp mode [server|client|transparent]
Sets the VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) operational mode of a switch. Server mode allows creating/modifying VLANs and propagating them. Client mode receives VLAN info but cannot modify. Transparent mode does not participate in VTP but forwards VTP advertisements.
vtp version [1|2|3]
Sets the VTP version used by the switch. VTP version 1 is the default and most compatible. Version 2 adds support for Token Ring VLANs and transparent mode forwarding improvements. Version 3 adds support for extended VLANs (1006-4094), private VLANs, and password hashing.
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