C
H A P T E R
This feature is available in STU-C mode only.
This chapter introduces the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
(RSTP).
23.1 RSTP and STP
RSTP adds rapid reconfiguration capability to STP. The IES-708-22A supports RSTP and the
earlier STP. RSTP and STP detect and break network loops and provide backup links between
switches, bridges or routers. They allow a device to interact with other RSTP or STP-aware
devices in your network to ensure that only one path exists between any two stations on the
network. The IES-708-22A uses RSTP by default but can still operate with STP switches
(although without RSTP's benefits).
The root bridge is the base of the spanning tree; it is the bridge with the lowest identifier value
(MAC address). Path cost is the cost of transmitting a frame onto a LAN through that port. It is
assigned according to the speed of the link to which a port is attached. The slower the media,
the higher the cost, as illustrated in the following table.
Table 49 Path Cost
LINK SPEED
Path Cost
4Mbps
Path Cost
10Mbps
Path Cost
16Mbps
Path Cost
100Mbps
Path Cost
1Gbps
Path Cost
10Gbps
On each bridge, the root port is the port through which this bridge communicates with the root.
It is the port on this IES-708-22A with the lowest path cost to the root (the root path cost). If
there is no root port, then this IES-708-22A has been accepted as the root bridge of the
spanning tree network.
For each LAN segment, a designated bridge is selected. This bridge has the lowest cost to the
root among the bridges connected to the LAN.
IES-708-22A User's Guide
Spanning Tree Protocol
RECOMMENDED
VALUE
250
100
62
19
4
2
23
RECOMMENDED
ALLOWED RANGE
RANGE
100 to 1000
1 to 65535
50 to 600
1 to 65535
40 to 400
1 to 65535
10 to 60
1 to 65535
3 to 10
1 to 65535
1 to 5
1 to 65535
169