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10
10 – Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Create and manage alternate paths to the network
panning Tree Protocol was designed to avoid loops in an Ethernet network. An Ethernet
network using switches can have redundant paths – this may however cause loops and to
prevent the loops MNS-6K software uses spanning tree protocol. As a manager of the MNS-6K
software, controlling n which span the traffic traverses is necessary. It is also necessary to specify
the parameters of STP. STP is available as the IEEE 802.1d protocol and is a standard of the IEEE.
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STP features and operation
The switch uses the IEEE 802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol (STP).
When STP is enabled, it ensures that only one path at a time is
active between any two nodes on the network. In networks where
more than one physical path exists between two nodes, STP ensures only a single path is
active by blocking all redundant paths. Enabling STP is necessary to avoid loops and
duplicate messages. This duplication leads to a “broadcast storm” or other erratic
behavior that can bring down the network.
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As recommended in the IEEE 802.1Q VLAN standard, the Magnum 6K family of
switches uses single-instance STP. This means a single spanning tree is created to make
sure there are no network loops associated with any of the connections to the switch.
This works regardless of whether VLANs are configured on the switch. Thus, these
switches do not distinguish between VLANs when identifying redundant physical links.
The switch automatically senses port identity and type, and automatically defines port cost
and priority for each type. The MNS-6K software allows a manager to adjust the cost,
priority, the mode for each port as well as the global STP parameter values for the switch.
While allowing only one active path through a network at any time, STP retains any
redundant physical path to serve as a backup (blocked) path in case the existing active path
fails. Thus, if an active path fails, STP automatically activates (unblocks) an available
backup to serve as the new active path for as long as the original active path is down.
The table below lists the default values of the STP variables.
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