Bridging 89
T0008-16F Release 5.2M
Spanning Tree Protocol Entity (STPE)
STPE Parameter Setting Considerations
Introduction This section discusses how the bridge and bridge link parameters can be used to
influence the design of a bridge network and to show how they relate to overall
PathBuilder S200 series switch configuration during spanning tree operation.
Note
You should thoroughly understand the spanning tree protocol and how its
parameters influence performance before you consider changing SPTE-related
these parameters in a PathBuilder S200 series switch network. Otherwise,
because of the critical nature of the timers involved, the spanning tree topology
may become unstable. It may become difficult to trace this behavior as t he ef f ect
might occur only occasionally and only in certain types of traffic patterns.
Example of a
Bridge Network
With Spanning Tree
Figure 43 shows a bridge network composed of six PathBuilder S200 series switches
and five LANs. Thelinks that are in the blocking state have been selected to achieve
the shortest path for the bulk of the expected data flow.

Figure 43. Example of a Bridge Network

Bridge 1
Bridge 3
Bridge 2
Bridge 4
Bridge 5 Bridge 6
5
67
1
1
910
11
1
1
8
LAN 1
LAN 3
LAN 2
LAN 4
LAN 5
Bridge 1 MAC Address:
0F-00-3E-00-10-50 08-00-3E-00-10-60
08-00-3E-00-20-4008-00-3E-00-20-30
08-00-3E-00-30-10 08-00-3E-00-30-20