10-8
Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Software Configuration Guide
78-11194-03
Chapter10 Configuring STP
Understanding Basic STP Features
Learns addresses
Receives BPDUs

Forwarding State

A Layer 2 interface in the forwarding state forwards frames. The Layer 2 interface enters the forwarding
state from the learning state.
A Layer 2 interface in the forwarding state performs as follows:
Receives and forwards frames received on the port
Forwards frames switched from another port
Learns addresses
Receives BPDUs

Disabled State

A Layer 2 interface in the disabled state does not participate in frame forwarding or STP. A Layer 2
interface in the disabled state is nonoperational.
A disabled Layer 2 interface performs as follows:
Discards frames received on the port
Discards frames switched from another interface for forwarding
Does not learn addresses
Does not receive BPDUs
STP Address Management
IEEE 802.1D specifies 17 multicast addresses, ranging from 0x001 80C2000000 to 0x0180C2000010, to
be used by different bridge protocols. These addresses are stat ic addr ess es that cann ot b e remo ve d.
Regardless of the STP state, the switch receives but does not forward packets destined for addresses
between 0x0180c2000000 and 0x1080C200000F.
If STP is enabled, the switch CPU receives packets destined for 0x01 80C 200 0000 and
0x0180C2000010. If STP is disabled, the switch forwards those packets as unknown multicast
addresses.
STP and IEEE 802.1Q Trunks
The IEEE 802.1Q standard for VLAN trunks imposes some limitations on the spanning-tree strategy for
a network. The standard requires only one spanning-tree instance for all VLANs allowed on the trunks.
However, in a network of Cisco switches connected through 802.1Q trunks, the switc hes m ainta in one
spanning-tree instance for each VLAN allowed on the trunks.
When you connect a Cisco switch to a non-Cisco device through an 802.1Q trunk, the Cisco switch uses
per-VLAN spanning tree+ (PVST+) to provide STP interoperability. It combines the spanning-tree
instance of the 802.1Q VLAN of the trunk with the spanning-tree instance of the non-Ci sco 802 .1Q
switch.