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Catalyst 2900 Series XL and Catalyst 3500 Series XL Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter 8      Configuring VLANs
How the VMPS Works
Dynamic Port VLAN Membership
A dynamic (nontrunking) port on the switch can belong to only one VLAN. When 
the link comes up, the switch does not forward traffic to or from this port until the 
VMPS provides the VLAN assignment. The VMPS receives the source MAC 
address from the first packet of a new host connected to the dynamic port and 
attempts to match the MAC address to a VLAN in the VMPS database. 
If there is a match, the VMPS sends the VLAN number for that port. If the client 
switch was not previously configured, it uses the domain name from the first VTP 
packet it receives on its trunk port from the VMPS. If the client switch was 
previously configured, it includes its domain name in the query packet to the 
VMPS to obtain its VLAN number. The VMPS verifies that the domain name in 
the packet matches its own domain name before accepting the request and 
responds to the client with the assigned VLAN number for the client.
If there is no match, the VMPS either denies the request or shuts down the port 
(depending on the VMPS secure mode setting). For more information on possible 
VMPS responses, see the “How the VMPS Works” section on page 8-52.
Multiple hosts (MAC addresses) can be active on a dynamic port if they are all in 
the same VLAN; however, the VMPS shuts down a dynamic port if more than 20 
hosts are active on the port.
If the link goes down on a dynamic port, the port returns to an isolated state and 
does not belong to a VLAN. Any hosts that come online through the port are 
checked again with the VMPS before the port is assigned to a VLAN.