Spanning Tree Protocol - 3Com PathBuilder S200 Series Owner's Manual

Spanning Tree Protocol

What Is It?
Spanning Tree Protocol reduces multiple bridge paths between LANs to a single
path. Instead of a mesh network with several paths to a destination, the Spanning
Tree Protocol remaps the network so that only one path is active for traffic between
any source station and any destination station. The other paths block any frames
between the LANs.
A spanning tree network eliminates parallel paths and traffic loops.
The PathBuilder S200 series switch implementation of the Spanning Tree Protocol
Entity (SPTE) conforms to IEEE 802.ID specifications. Refer to the IEEE 802.ID
specification for more detailed information on Spanning Tree Protocol operation.
Automatic &
PathBuilder S200 series switch support both automatic and manual spanning tree
Manual Spanning operations.
Tree Support
If you do not want to configure spanning tree operation yourself, you can use the
automatic spanning tree creation option. Remember that a all bridges in your
network must be configured to automatic spanning tree operation to allow for the
spanning tree protocol to determine the spanning tree.
For More Details...
See the"Spanning Tree Protocol Entity (STPE)" section on page 86.
Bridging
T0008-16F
Bridging Features and Capabilities
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Release 5.2M