User's Guide

Wireless Array

Viewing Status on the Wireless Array 105

Spanning Tree Status

Multiple active paths between stations can cause loops in the network. If a loop

exists in the network topology, the potential exists for the duplication of

messages. The spanning tree protocol is a link management protocol that

provides path redundancy while preventing undesirable loops. For a wireless

network to function properly, only one active path can exist between two stations.

To facilitate path redundancy, the spanning tree protocol defines a tree that spans

all stations in the network and forces certain redundant data paths into a standby

(blocked) state. If one segment in the spanning tree becomes unreachable, the

spanning tree algorithm reconfigures the network topology and reestablishes the

link by activating the standby path. The spanning tree function is transparent to

client stations.

Figure 53. Spanning Tree Status

This window shows the spanning tree status (forwarding or blocked) for path

segments that terminate on the gigabit ports and WDS links of this Array. You

may sort the rows based on the VLAN Name or Number columns by clicking the

column header. Click Refresh to update the information at any time. Click Auto

Refresh to instruct the Array to refresh this window automatically.