Videos/VLAN, VTP, Trunking and EtherChannel Lab
VLAN, VTP, Trunking and EtherChannel Lab
24 min lesson, taught by CISNET instructor Mani Poopal (CCIE).
This hands on CCNP switching lab walks through a two switch Layer 2 build from a clean slate, covering VLAN creation, VTP server and client synchronization, 802.1Q trunking with a custom native VLAN, access port assignment with PortFast, and an LACP EtherChannel. Instructor Mani Poopal (CCIE) shows how to reset both switches to a known state first, then configures each feature step by step and verifies it with the key Cisco IOS show commands. By the end you can bring up trunks, propagate VLANs over VTP, place hosts into access VLANs, and bundle links into a single logical EtherChannel.
What this lesson covers
- 00:03Lab overview and two switch topology
- 01:06Requirements: hostnames, VTP, VLANs, trunking
- 02:33Resetting both switches to a clean default state
- 05:04Configuring the 802.1Q trunk links
- 08:00Setting up VTP server and client
- 11:52Creating VLANs 10 to 50 and confirming propagation
- 13:35Assigning access ports with PortFast
- 18:04Bundling the links into an LACP EtherChannel
Key concepts
- Reset each switch to a clean state with vtp mode transparent, no vlan 2-494, and default interface range before starting the build.
- Configure the trunk with switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q, switchport mode trunk, then restrict traffic using switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20,30,40,50.
- Set a non default native VLAN on the trunk with switchport trunk native vlan 999 and confirm it with show interfaces trunk.
- Make switch one the VTP server and switch two the VTP client, using a shared VTP domain and a VTP password so the MD5 digest matches on both sides.
- Create VLANs 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 with names on the server and let VTP advertise them down to the client.
- Assign the first three access ports to VLAN 10 and the next three to VLAN 20 with switchport mode access and switchport access vlan.
- Apply spanning tree portfast on the access ports to move them to the forwarding state immediately.
- Bundle the two trunk links into an EtherChannel using channel-group with LACP active on switch one and passive on switch two.
Key takeaways
- VTP synchronization depends on a matching domain name and password, and the configuration revision number and MD5 digest should match once VLANs propagate.
- The allowed VLAN list and a defined native VLAN keep the trunk tidy and avoid native VLAN mismatch messages.
- PortFast is a Cisco feature that skips the listening and learning stages so access ports come up for end devices right away.
- EtherChannel presents the bundled links as one logical link, so spanning tree no longer blocks a redundant port and total bandwidth increases.
Train for this the structured way
This free lesson is a sample of how CISNET teaches. The live courses cover it with guided labs and exam prep.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a VTP server and a VTP client in this lab?
The VTP server, switch one, can create, modify, and delete VLANs and advertises them across the domain. The VTP client, switch two, cannot change VLANs locally and instead learns them from the server, provided both share the same VTP domain name and password.
Why set the native VLAN to 999 on the trunk?
Setting the native VLAN to an unused value like 999 with switchport trunk native vlan 999 moves untagged traffic away from the default VLAN 1. Both ends of the trunk must agree on the native VLAN, otherwise IOS reports a native VLAN mismatch.
How does EtherChannel remove the spanning tree blocked port?
Before EtherChannel, spanning tree blocks one of the two parallel trunk links to prevent a loop. Bundling them into one EtherChannel with LACP makes the switches treat both physical links as one logical link, so spanning tree sees a single path, no port is blocked, and the combined bandwidth is available.
Ready to Advance Your IT Career?
Get in touch to find the right certification path for your goals.
Get in Touch
