Users Guide

Table Of Contents
Dell PowerConnect ArubaOS 5.0 | User Guide] RSTP | 421
Chapter 21
RSTP
Dell’s implementation of Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is as specified in 802.1w with backward
compatibility to legacy Spanning Tree (STP) 802.1D. RSTP takes advantage of point-to-point links and provides
rapid convergence of the spanning tree. RSTP is enabled by default on all Dell controllers.
Migration and Interoperability
Dell’s RSTP implementation interoperates with both PVST (Per VLAN Spanning Tree 802.1D) and Rapid-PVST
(802.1w) implementation on industry-standard router/switches. Dell supports global instances of STP and RSTP
only. Therefore, the ports on industry-standard routers/switches must be on the default or untagged VLAN for
interoperability with Dell controllers.
ArubaOS supports RSTP on the following interfaces:
z FastEthernet IEEE 802.3—fastethernet
z Gigabitethernet IEEE 802.3—gigabitethernet
z Port Channel ID—port-channel
Rapid Convergence
Since RSTP is backward compatible with STP, it is possible to configure bridges RSTP (and STP) in the same
network. However, such mixed networks may not always provide rapid convergence. RSTP provides rapid
convergence when interfaces are configured as either:
z Edge ports—These are the interfaces/ports connected to hosts. These interfaces are immediately moved to
the forwarding state. In this mode an interface forwards frames by default until it receives a BPDU (Bridge
Protocol Data Units) indicating that it should behave otherwise; it does not go through the Listening and
Learning states.
z Point-to-Point links—These are the interfaces/ports connected directly to neighboring bridges over a point-to-
point link. RSTP negotiates with the neighbor bridge for rapid convergence/transition only when the link is
point-to-point.
Table 84 compares the port states between STP and RSTP.
Table 84 Port State Comparison
STP (802.1d)
Port State
RSTP (802.1w)
Port State
Disabled Discarding
Blocking Discarding
Listening Discarding
Learning Learning
Forwarding Forwarding