APPENDIX A. SPANNING TREE CONCEPTS
General
The IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol resolves the problems of physical loops in a network by establishing one primary path between any two switches in a network. Any duplicate paths are barred from use and become standby or blocked paths until the original path fails, at which point they can be brought into service.
Spanning Tree Features
The
•Creates a single spanning tree from any arrangement of switching or bridging elements.
The term “switch” is used as an equivalent to “bridge” in this document.
•Compensates automatically for the failure, removal, or addition of any device in an active data path.
•Achieves port changes in short time intervals, which establishes a stable active topology quickly with a minimum of network disturbance.
•Uses a minimum amount of communications bandwidth to accomplish the operation of the Spanning Tree Protocol.
•Reconfigures the active topology in a manner that is transparent to stations transmitting and receiving data packets.
•Manages the topology in a consistent and reproducible manner through the use of Spanning Tree Protocol parameters.
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