Introduction to VCMP

Definition

The Virtual Local Area Network Central Management Protocol (VCMP), a Layer 2 protocol in the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model, transmits VLAN information and ensures consistent VLAN information on the Layer 2 network.

Purpose

In most cases, switches on an enterprise network need to synchronize VLAN information with each other to ensure that they can correctly forward data. On a small-scale enterprise network, the network administrator can log in to each switch to configure and maintain VLANs. On a large-scale enterprise network, a lot of switches are deployed, so a large amount of VLAN information needs to be configured and maintained. If the network administrator manually configures and maintains all VLANs, the workload is heavy and VLAN information may be inconsistent.

VCMP is used to implement centralized VLAN management. The network administrator needs to create and delete VLAN information only on a switch. The changes on the switch are automatically synchronized to other switches in a specified scope so that no manual operation is required on these switches. In this way, the configuration workload is reduced and VLAN information consistency is ensured.

• VCMP can only help the network administrator synchronize VLAN information but not dynamically assign VLANs. VCMP is often used with Link-type Negotiation Protocol (LNP) to simplify user configurations. For details about LNP, see LNP.

• Generic VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP) can reduce VLAN configurations and dynamically assign interfaces to VLANs. GVRP creates dynamic VLANs, but VCMP creates static VLANs.

Benefits to Customers