University

(Rapid) Spanning Tree Protocol

Alcatel-Lucent University Antwerp

Alcatel-Lucent University
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IEEE 802.1D (STP) & IEEE 802.1W (RSTP)

802.1D Bridge Protocol
Interconnection of IEEE 802 LANs
Includes Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

802.1W Rapid Bridge Protocol

Amendment to IEEE Std 802.1D
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)

Without STP, redundant paths cause loops

Multiple active paths between hosts cause loops

end stations receive duplicate messages

switches learn host MAC addresses on multiple
interfaces.
This results in an unstable network
LOOP!

Phys MAC addr.

6
3

P1

P1 P2
P1 P2

Port nbr
1

1
1

P1 P2

Phys1

Phys2
2

1
P1 P2

Phys MAC addr.

Port nbr

P1

P1

STP prevents loops

In bridged networks, redundant paths can cause loops
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) prevents loops:
STP allows only one single path between any pair of hosts

STP relies on BPDU messages: Bridged Protocol Data Units

Key functions:

find an active topology without loops

block and unblock ports
discover failures

STP Spanning Tree Protocol

IEEE 802.1d bridge protocol
Spanning tree: loop-free subset of a network topology
Select root bridge
Calculate loop-free path from root to every bridge
Block ports to put redundant paths in standby
In case of failure, a new spanning tree will be calculated and
activated.

Operation of STP is transparent to hosts

STP Spanning Tree Protocol

Bridges exchange BPDU Bridge Protocol Data Unit

BPDU are used to build the spanning tree :
select root bridge (lowest bridge-id)
calculate shortest path from each bridge to the root based on path cost
define a designated bridge in each LAN that will forward frames to the
root (based on path cost)
on each non-root bridge, select the root port
Only one port can be the designated port.

block ports to be excluded from the spanning tree

the bridge-id is based on one of the MAC addresses

Bridge id and path cost are configurable!

Bridge and port definitions

R

If receiving best BPDU on segment

If sending best BPDU on segment

ROOT
D

Alternate port
(Blocked)

Backup port
(Blocked)

D
Take over

DESIGNATED

Take over

Spanning tree Example

root

0
2
Bridge
(identifier)

11
4

LAN

4
19 5
4

10
4

12

13

path cost
9

19

19
1

19

Path cost

100

100

100
8

10Mbps 100
100Mbps 19
1000Mbps 4
10Gbps 2

RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol)

Limitations of IEEE802.1d STP ?
STP recovers connectivity after an outage within 1 minute.
L3 routers need less time for recovery (e.g. OSPF)!
Cisco added proprietary enhancements (configuration needed)

IEEE802.1w RSTP
Evolution of 802.1d STP
Most parameters remain the same
Capable of reverting back to 802.1d on a per port basis

Enhancements
Only 3 port states: discarding, learning and forwarding
All bridges send BPDUs periodically i.s.o relaying root-BPDU
Rapid transition to forwarding state which (faster convergence - sometimes within
hundreds of ms)
New topology change mechanisms

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