Multiple Instance
802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)
Common and Internal Spanning Tree (CIST): The CIST identifies the regions in a network and administers the CIST root bridge for the network, the root bridge for each region, and the root bridge for each
Common Spanning Tree (CST): The CST administers the connectivity among the MST regions, STP LANs, and RSTP LANs in a bridged network.
MST Region: An MST region comprises the VLANs configured on physically connected MSTP switches. All switches in a given region must be configured with the same VLANs, the same Multiple Spanning Tree Instances (MSTIs), and the same MST configuration identifiers.
Internal Spanning Tree (IST): The IST administers the topology within a given MST region. When you configure a switch for MSTP operation, the switch automatically includes all of the static VLANs configured on the switch in a single, active spanning tree topology (instance) within the IST. This is termed the “IST instance”. Any VLANs you subsequently configure on the switch are added to this IST instance. To create separate forwarding paths within a region, group specific VLANs into different Multiple Spanning Tree Instances (MSTIs). (Refer to “Multiple Spanning Tree Instance (MSTI)”, below.)
Types of Multiple Spanning Tree Instances: A multiple spanning tree network comprises separate
■Internal
Within a region, the IST instance provides a
■Multiple Spanning Tree Instance (MSTI): This type of configurable spanning tree instance comprises all static VLANs you specifically assign to it, and must include at least one VLAN. The VLAN(s) you assign to an