What does VTP stand for?

VTP stands for VLAN Trunking Protocol, which is a proprietary protocol developed by Cisco for managing VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) across a switched network. VLAN Trunking Protocol allows network administrators to configure and manage VLANs from a central point, simplifying the process of maintaining VLAN configurations on multiple switches.

The key function of VTP is to ensure that VLAN information is propagated across the network, which helps in maintaining consistent VLAN settings and reducing the risk of misconfigurations. When a change is made to a VLAN configuration on one switch, VTP communicates that change to all other switches in the same VTP domain, ensuring that all the switches have the same VLAN information without requiring manual configuration on each device.

This protocol is particularly useful in environments that utilize multiple switches because it allows for easier scalability and management of VLANs. Although there are other terms that might sound similar, such as Virtual Trunking Protocol, Virtual LAN Protocol, or VLAN Transport Protocol, they do not accurately represent the purpose and functionality of VTP as it pertains to VLAN management and propagation within Cisco networks.