Terminology - 3Com 4210G Series Configuration Manual

convergence speed, but it involves complicated networking and configurations and therefore is mainly
used in ring-shaped networks.
For more information about STP and RRPP, refer to MSTP Configuration in the Access Volume and
RRPP Configuration in the High Availability Volume.
Smart Link is a feature developed to address the slow convergence issue with STP. It provides link
redundancy as well as fast convergence in a dual uplink network, allowing the backup link to take over
quickly when the primary link fails. To sum up, Smart Link features the following:
Dedicated to dual uplink networks
Subsecond convergence
Easy to configure

Terminology

Smart link group
A smart link group consists of only two member ports: the master and the slave. At a time, only one
port is active for forwarding, and the other port is blocked, that is, in the standby state. When link failure
occurs on the active port due to port shutdown or presence of unidirectional link for example, the
standby port becomes active to take over while the original active port transits to the blocked state.
As shown in Figure
form a smart link group, with GE1/0/1 being active and GE1/0/2 being standby.
Master/slave port
Master port and slave port are two port roles in a smart link group. When both ports in a smart link
group are up, the master port preferentially transits to the forwarding state, while the slave port stays in
the standby state. Once the master port fails, the slave port takes over to forward traffic.
As shown in Figure
and GE1/0/2 of Device C and that of Device D slave ports.
Master/slave link
The link that connects the master port in a smart link group is the master link; the link that connects the
slave port is the slave link.
Protected VLAN
A smart link group controls the forwarding state of some data VLANs, which are referred to as
protected VLANs. Different smart link groups on a port control different protected VLANs. The state of
the port in a protected VLAN is determined by the state of the port in the smart link group.
Transmit control VLAN
The transmit control VLAN is used for transmitting flush messages. When link switchover occurs, the
devices (such as Device C and Device D in
control VLAN.
1-1, GE1/0/1 and GE1/0/2 of Device C and GE1/0/1 and GE1/0/2 of Device D each
1-1, you can configure GE1/0/1 of Device C and that of Device D as master ports,
Figure 1-1) broadcast flush messages within the transmit
1-2