Administrator Guide

Spanning Tree Protocol 779

Spanning Tree Protocol

Dell Networking N1500, N2000, N3000, and N4000 Series Switches

This chapter describes how to configure the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

settings on the switch.

The topics covered in this chapter include:

•STP Overview

•RSTP-PV

• Default STP Values

• Configuring Spanning Tree (Web)

• Configuring Spanning Tree (CLI)

• STP Configuration Examples

STP Overview

STP is a layer-2 protocol that provides a tree topology for switches on a

bridged LAN. STP allows a network to have redundant paths without the risk

of network loops. STP uses the spanning tree algorithm to provide a single

path between end stations on a network.

Dell Networking N-Series switches support Classic STP, Multiple STP, and

Rapid STP over point-to-point full-duplex links. Half-duplex associated states

are not supported in Dell Networking spanning-tree. Dell Networking

spanning tree presumes that all links are full-duplex and acts accordingly.

What Are Classic STP, Multiple STP, and Rapid STP?

Classic STP provides a single path between end stations, avoiding and

eliminating loops.

Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) supports multiple instances of

Spanning Tree to efficiently channel VLAN traffic over different interfaces.

Each instance of the Spanning Tree behaves in the manner specified in IEEE

802.1w, Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP), with slight modifications in the

working but not the end effect (chief among the effects, is the rapid

transitioning of the port to Forwarding). The difference between RSTP and