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VTP stands for VLAN Trunking Protocol, which is a Cisco protocol used to manage VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) on a network. It allows for the automatic propagation of VLAN information across a switched network, making it easier to manage multiple VLANs without the need to configure them individually on each switch.

The primary purpose of VTP is to ensure that all switches in a VTP domain are aware of the VLAN configurations, thus simplifying the administration of VLANs and preventing inconsistencies. By using VTP, network administrators can create, delete, and modify VLANs on a single switch, and those changes will be automatically communicated to all other switches in the VTP domain.

The name reflects its functionality: "VLAN" indicates the context it operates within, and "Trunking" refers to the method of carrying multiple VLANs over a single physical link between switches. This is essential in larger networks where multiple VLANs need to communicate across the same infrastructure.

This understanding highlights the significant advantage of using VTP in managing a network’s VLANs efficiently.