VTP Configuration Sim

Question

[am4show have=’p2;’]A new switch is being added to our LAN. Complete the following steps:
+ Configuring the building_2 switch with an IP address and default gateway.
+ Use the last available IP address on the management subnet for the switch host address.
+ In addition, the switch needs to be configured to be in the same VTP domain as the building_1 switch and also needs to be configured as a VTP client.
+ Assume that the IP configuration and VTP configuration on building_1 are complete and correct.

The configuration of the router is not accessible for this exercise. You must accomplish the following tasks:

Determine and configure the IP host address of the new switch.
Determine and configure the default gateway of the new switch.
Determine and configure the correct VTP domain name for the new switch.
Configure the new switch as a VTP client.

Note: You might be asked to use first, second… available IP address on the management subnet.[/am4show]

Answer and Explanation

If you are not sure about VTP, please read my VTP tutorial

The question states we can’t access the router so we can only get required information from switch building_1. Click on the PC connected with switch building_1 (through a console line) to access switch building_1’s CLI. On this switch use the show running-config command:

building_1#show running-config

Next use the show vtp status command to learn about the vtp domain on this switch

building_1#show vtp status

(Notice: the IP address, IP default-gateway and VTP domain name might be different!!!)

You should write down these 3 parameters carefully.

Configuring the new switch
+ Determine and configure the IP host address of the new switch

The question requires “for the switch host address, you should use the last available IP address on the management subnet”. The building_1 switch’s IP address, which is 192.168.22.50 255.255.255.224, belongs to the management subnet.

Increment: 32 (because 224 = 1110 0000)
Network address: 192.168.22.32
Broadcast address: 192.168.22.63

->The last available IP address on the management subnet is 192.168.22.62 and it hasn’t been used (notice that the IP address of Fa0/1 interface of the router is also the default gateway address 192.168.22.35).

Also notice that the management IP address of a switch should be configured in Vlan1 interface. After it is configured, we can connect to it via telnet or SSH to manage it.

Switch2#configure terminal
Switch2(config)#interface Vlan1
Switch2(config-if)#ip address 192.168.22.62 255.255.255.224
Switch2(config-if)#no shutdown

+ Determine and configure the default gateway of the new switch

The default gateway of this new switch is same as that of building_1 switch, which is 192.168.22.35

Switch2(config-if)#exit
Switch2(config)#ip default-gateway 192.168.22.35

+ Determine and configure the correct VTP domain name for the new switch

The VTP domain name shown on building_1 switch is 9tut so we have to use it in the new switch (notice: the VTP domain name will be different in the exam and it is case sensitive so be careful)

Switch2(config)# vtp domain 9tut

+ Configure the new switch as a VTP client

Switch2(config)#vtp mode client

We should check the new configuration with the “show running-config” & “show vtp status”; also try pinging from the new switch to the the default gateway to make sure it works well.

Finally save the configuration

Switch2(config)#exit
Switch2#copy running-config startup-config

You can download this sim and practice it with Packet tracer here. If you have any problem with this file you can download another version of this sim here.