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Cisco 500 Series Managed Switch Administration Guide 296
Spanning Tree
This section describes the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (IEEE802.1D and
IEEE802.1Q) and covers the following topics:
• STP Flavors
• STP Status and Global Settings
• Spanning Tree Interface Settings
• Rapid Spanning Tree Settings
• Multiple Spanning Tree
• MSTP Properties
• VLANs to a MSTP Instance
• MSTP Instance Settings
• MSTP Interface Settings
STP Flavors
STP protects a Layer 2 Broadcast domain from Broadcast storms by selectively
setting links to standby mode to prevent loops. In standby mode, these links
temporarily stop transferring user data. After the topology changes so that the
data transfer is made possible, the links are automatically re-activated.
Loops occur when alternate routes exist between hosts. Loops in an extended
network can cause switches to forward traffic indefinitely, resulting in increased
traffic load and reduced network efficiency.
STP provides a tree topology for any arrangement of switches and
interconnecting links, by creating a unique path between end stations on a
network, and thereby eliminating loops.
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