Main Menu->Spanning Tree Configuration Menu - Symbol ES3000 User Manual

3-52 ES3000 User Guide
3.5.36 Main Menu->Spanning Tree Configuration Menu
The ES3000 can be configured to use one of three spanning tree protocols. Spanning Tree Protocol
(STP) is compatible with legacy equipment. Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is signficantly faster
than STP. Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) is based on RSTP and extends RSTP in a way that
is useful for switches implementing VLANs.
There maybe more than one physical path between any two nodes (forming a loop) either created for
redundancy or by accident. STP ensures only one physical path is active and the others are blocked.
If a loop is created for redundancy, STP monitors the two paths and activates the stand-by path if the
primary path fails. If a loop was created inadvertently, STP disables one of the two paths. A loop can
disable the network by causing a "Broadcast Storm", the result of a broadcast message traveling
through the loop again and again.
Use the Spanning Tree Configuration menu to access and configure the following submenus:
• Forwarding DB
• MSTP Config.