Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) provides tree topography for any arrangement of bridges. STP also provides a single path between end stations on a network, eliminating loops.
Loops occur when alternate routes exist between hosts. Loops in an extended network can cause bridges to forward traffic indefinitely, resulting in increased traffic and reducing network efficiency.
The device supports the following STP versions:
•Classic STP — Provides a single path between end stations, avoiding and eliminating loops. Defining Spanning Tree
•Rapid STP — Detects and uses network topologies that provide faster convergence of the spanning tree, without creating forwarding loops. For more information on configuring Rapid STP, see Defining Rapid STP.
•Multiple STP — Provides various load balancing scenarios. For example, if port A is blocked in one STP instance, the same port can be placed in the Forwarding State in another STP instance. For more information on configuring Multiple STP, see Defining Multiple STP.
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