Dynamic Trunking Protocol
Summary
This topic configure Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP). Start learning CCNA 200-301 for free right now!!
Note: Welcome: This topic is part of Module 3 of the Cisco CCNA 2 course, for a better follow up of the course you can go to the CCNA 2 section to guide you through an order.
Table of Contents
Introduction to DTP
Some Cisco switches have a proprietary protocol that lets them automatically negotiate trunking with a neighboring device. This protocol is called Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP). DTP can speed up the configuration process for a network administrator. Ethernet trunk interfaces support different trunking modes. An interface can be set to trunking or nontrunking, or to negotiate trunking with the neighbor interface. Trunk negotiation is managed by DTP, which operates on a point-to-point basis only, between network devices.
DTP is a Cisco proprietary protocol that is automatically enabled on Catalyst 2960 and Catalyst 3650 Series switches. DTP manages trunk negotiation only if the port on the neighbor switch is configured in a trunk mode that supports DTP. Switches from other vendors do not support DTP.
Caution: Some internetworking devices might forward DTP frames improperly, which can cause misconfigurations. To avoid this, turn off DTP on Cisco switch interfaces that are connected to devices that do not support DTP.
The default DTP configuration for Cisco Catalyst 2960 and 3650 switches is dynamic auto.
To enable trunking from a Cisco switch to a device that does not support DTP, use the switchport mode trunk and switchport nonegotiate interface configuration mode commands. This causes the interface to become a trunk, but it will not generate DTP frames.
S1(config-if)# switchport mode trunk S1(config-if)# switchport nonegotiate
To re-enable dynamic trunking protocol use the switchport mode dynamic auto command.
S1(config-if)# switchport mode dynamic auto
If the ports connecting two switches are configured to ignore all DTP advertisements with the switchport mode trunk and the switchport nonegotiate commands, the ports will stay in trunk port mode. If the connecting ports are set to dynamic auto, they will not negotiate a trunk and will stay in the access mode state, creating an inactive trunk link.
When configuring a port to be in trunk mode, use the switchport mode trunk command. Then there is no ambiguity about which state the trunk is in; it is always on.
Negotiated Interface Modes
The switchport mode command has additional options for negotiating the interface mode. The full command syntax is the following:
Switch(config)# switchport mode { access | dynamic { auto | desirable } | trunk }
The options are described in the table.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
access |
|
dynamic auto |
|
dynamic desirable |
|
trunk |
|
Use the switchport nonegotiate interface configuration command to stop DTP negotiation. The switch does not engage in DTP negotiation on this interface. You can use this command only when the interface switchport mode is access or trunk. You must manually configure the neighboring interface as a trunk interface to establish a trunk link.
Results of a DTP Configuration
The table illustrates the results of the DTP configuration options on opposite ends of a trunk link connected to Catalyst 2960 switch ports. Best practice is to configure trunk links statically whenever possible.
| . | Dynamic Auto | Dynamic Desirable | Trunk | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Auto | Access | Trunk | Trunk | Access |
| Dynamic Desirable | Trunk | Trunk | Trunk | Access |
| Trunk | Trunk | Trunk | Trunk | Limited connectivity |
| Access | Access | Access | Limited connectivity | Access |
Verify DTP Mode
The default DTP mode is dependent on the Cisco IOS Software version and on the platform. To determine the current DTP mode, issue the show dtp interface command as shown in the output.
S1# show dtp interface fa0/1 DTP information for FastEthernet0/1: TOS/TAS/TNS: ACCESS/AUTO/ACCESS TOT/TAT/TNT: NATIVE/NEGOTIATE/NATIVE Neighbor address 1: C80084AEF101 Neighbor address 2: 000000000000 Hello timer expiration (sec/state): 11/RUNNING Access timer expiration (sec/state): never/STOPPED Negotiation timer expiration (sec/state): never/STOPPED Multidrop timer expiration (sec/state): never/STOPPED FSM state: S2:ACCESS # times multi & trunk 0 Enabled: yes In STP: no
Note: A general best practice is to set the interface to trunk and nonegotiate when a trunk link is required. On links where trunking is not intended, DTP should be turned off.
Packet Tracer – Configure DTP
In this Packet Tracer activity, you will configure and verify DTP.
Glossary: If you have doubts about any special term, you can consult this computer network dictionary.
Ready to go! Keep visiting our networking course blog, give Like to our fanpage; and you will find more tools and concepts that will make you a networking professional.
