Chapter 14: Spanning Tree; Stp Flavors - Cisco 350 Series Administration Manual

Managed switches

Hide thumbs Also See for 350 Series:

Table of Contents

Spanning Tree

Cisco 350, 350X and 550X Series Managed Switches, Firmware Release 2.4, ver 0.4

This section describes the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (IEEE802.1D and IEEE802.1Q) and

covers the following topics:

STP Status and Global Settings

STP Interface Settings

RSTP Interface Settings

Multiple Spanning Tree Overview

MSTP Properties

VLANs to a MSTP Instance

MSTP Instance Settings

MSTP Interface Settings

STP protects a Layer 2 Broadcast domain from Broadcast storms by selectively setting links to

standby mode to prevent loops. In standby mode, these links temporarily stop transferring user

data. After the topology changes so that the data transfer is made possible, the links are

automatically re-activated.

Loops occur when alternate paths exist between hosts. Loops can cause switches to relay the

same packets indefinitely, resulting packets not arriving at their destination, Broadcast/

Multicast storms and reduced network efficiency.

STP provides a tree topology for any arrangement of switches and interconnecting links, by

creating a unique path between end stations on a network, and thereby eliminating loops.

Show Quick Links

Table of Contents