Enterasys D-Series CLI Reference 8-1
8
Spanning Tree Configuration
ThischapterdescribestheSpanningTreeConfigurationsetofcommandsandhowtousethem.

Spanning Tree Configuration Summary

Overview: Single, Rapid, and Multiple Spanning Tree Protocols

TheIEEE802.1DSpanningTreeProtocol(STP)resolvestheproblemsofphysicalloopsina
networkbyestablishingoneprimarypathbetweenanytwodevicesinanetwork.Anyduplicate
pathsarebarredfromuseandbecomestandbyorblockedpathsuntiltheoriginalpathfails,at
whichpointtheycanbebroughtintoservice.
RSTP
TheIEEE802.1wRapidSpanningProtocol(RSTP),anevolutionof802.1D,canachievemuch
fasterconvergencethanlegacySTPinaproperlyconfigurednetwork.RSTPsignificantlyreduces
thetimetoreconfigurethenetwork’sactivetopologywhenphysicaltopologyorconfiguration
parameterchanges��occur.ItselectsoneswitchastherootofaSpanningTreeconnectedactive
topologyandassignsportrolestoindividualportsontheswitch,dependingonwhetherthatport
ispartoftheactivetopology.
RSTPprovidesrapidconnectivityfollowingthefailureofaswitch,switchport,oraLAN.Anew
rootportandthedesignatedportontheothersideofthebridgetransitiontoforwardingthrough
anexplicithandshakebetweenthem.Bydefault,userportsareconfiguredtorapidlytransitionto
forwardinginRSTP.
MSTP
TheIEEE802.1sMultipleSpanningTreeProtocol(MSTP)buildsupon802.1DandRSTPby
optimizingutilizationofredundantlinksbetweenswitchesinanetwork.Whenredundantlinks
existbetweenapairofswitchesrunningsingleSTP,onelinkisforwardingwhiletheothersare
For information about... Refer to page...
Spanning Tree Configuration Summary 8-1
Configuring Spanning Tree Bridge Parameters 8-3
Configuring Spanning Tree Port Parameters 8-33
Configuring Spanning Tree Loop Protect Parameters 8-41
Caution: Spanning Tree configuration should be performed only by personnel who are very
knowledgeable about Spanning Trees and the configuration of the Spanning Tree Algorithm.
Otherwise, the proper operation of the network could be at risk.