Resilience Feature Overview; Spanning Tree Protocol (Stp) - 3Com 3824 Implementation Manual

34 C 4: U
HAPTER SING
Resilience Feature
Overview
Spanning Tree
Protocol (STP)
R F
ESILIENCE EATURES
Table 3 lists the key differences between each feature, so you can
evaluate the benefits of each to determine which feature is most suitable
for your network.
Table 3 Spanning Tree Protocols — Key Differences
Spanning Tree Protocol
STP is disabled by default. User enables
STP on each Switch.
Automatic configuration.
Up to 30 second delay on link failure to
restoring a network connection.
3Com recommends that you use the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
feature (default enabled) to provide optimum performance for your
network and ease of use.
The Switch also supports aggregated links which increase bandwidth and
also provide resilience against individual link failure. Aggregated links will
operate with STP enabled. For more information, see
on page 19.
The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) makes your network more resilient to
link failure and also provides a protection from loops — one of the major
causes of broadcast storms. STP is enabled by default on your Switch.
To be fully effective, STP must be enabled on all Switches in your
network.
RSTP provides the same functionality as STP. For details on how the two
systems differ, see
The following sections explain more about STP and the protocol features
supported by your Switch. They cover the following topics:
What is STP?
How STP Works
Using STP on a Network with Multiple VLANs
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
RSTP is enabled by default.
Automatic configuration.
Within 5 seconds restores a network
connection.
"How RSTP Differs to STP"
Aggregated Links
on page 39.