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Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter 15 Configuring Optional Spanning-Tree Features
Understanding Optional Spanning-Tree Features
Figure 15-3 UplinkFast Example Before Direct Link Failure
If Switch C detects a link failure on the currently active link L2 on the root port (a direct link failure),
UplinkFast unblocks the blocked port on Switch C and transitions it to the forwarding state without
going through the listening and learning states, as shown in Figure 15-4. This change takes
approximately 1 to 5 seconds.
Figure 15-4 UplinkFast Example After Direct Link Failure
Understanding Cross-Stack UplinkFast
Cross-stack UplinkFast (CSUF) provides a fast spanning-tree transition (fast convergence in less than
1 second under normal network conditions) across a stack of switches that use the GigaStack GBIC
modules connected in a shared cascaded configuration (multidrop backbone). During the fast transition,
an alternate redundant link on the stack of switches is placed in the forwarding state without causing
temporary spanning-tree loops or loss of connectivity to the backbone. With this feature, you can have
a redundant and resilient network in some configurations. You enable CSUF by using the spanning-tree
stack-port interface configuration command.
CSUF might not provide a fast transition all the time; in these cases, the normal spanning-tree transition
occurs, completing in 30 to 40 seconds. For more information, see the “Events that Cause Fast
Convergence” section on page 15-7.
L1
L2 L3
Switch C
Switch A
(Root) Switch B
Blocked port
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L1
L2 L3
Switch C
Switch A
(Root) Switch B
UplinkFast transitions port
directly to forwarding state.
Link failure
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