Terminology - HP procurve series 4100gl Management And Configuration Manual

Terminology

Term
downlink port
(downstream port)
edge switch
interior switch
single-instance spanning
tree
uplink port
(upstream port)
wiring closet switch
Port 3
4
Switch
(4108-Edge)
Port 5
Figure 13-12. Example of an Edge Switch in a Topology Configured for STP Fast Uplink
802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and 802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Definition
A switch port that is linked to a port on another switch (or to an end node) that is sequentially
further away from the STP root device. For example, port "C" in figure 13-11, above, is a
downlink port.
For the purposes of fast-uplink STP, this is a switch that has no other switches connected to
its downlink ports. An edge switch is sequentially further from the root device than other
switches to which it is connected. Also termed wiring closet switch or leaf switch. For
example, switch "4" in figure 13-12 (page 29) is an edge switch.
In an STP environment, a switch that is sequentially closer to the STP root device than one
or more other switches to which it is connected. For example, switches "1", "2", and "3" in
figure 13-12 (page 29) are interior switches.
A single spanning-tree ensuring that there are no logical network loops associated with any
of the connections to the switch, regardless of whether there are any VLANs configured on
the switch. For more information, see "Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)" in chapter 9, "Configuring
Advanced Features", in the Management and Configuration Guide for your switch.
A switch port linked to a port on another switch that is sequentially closer to the STP root
device. For example, ports "A" and "B" in figure 13-11 on page 28 are uplink ports.
Another term for an "edge" or "leaf" switch.
When single-instance spanning tree (STP) is running in a network and a
forwarding port goes down, a blocked port typically requires a period of
(2 x (forward delay) + link down detection)
to transition to forwarding. In a normal spanning tree environment, this
transition is usually 30 seconds (with the
default of 15 seconds). However, by using the fast-uplink spanning tree
feature, a port on a Series 4100GL switch used as an edge switch can make
this transition in as little as ten seconds. (In an STP environment, an edge
switch is a switch that is connected only to switches that are closer to the STP
root switch than the edge switch itself, as shown by switch "4" in figure 13-12,
below.)
2
Switch
6
3
Switch
1
Forward Delay
1
Switch
(Root)
8
802.1p Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP)
parameter set to its
LAN
Link blocked by STP:
13-29