Redundancy
RM Web L3E
Release
6.0
07/2010
7.5
Spanning Tree
183
7.5 Spanning Tree
Under Spanning Tree you will find the dialogs and views for configuring and
monitoring the Spanning Tree function in accordance with the IEEE 802.1w
(Rapid Spanning Tree, RSTP) and IEEE 802.1s (Multiple Spanning Tree,
MSTP) standards.
Note: The Spanning Tree Protocol is a protocol for MAC bridges. For this
reason, the following description employs the term bridge for Switch.
Introduction
Local networks are getting bigger and bigger. This applies to both the
geographical expansion and the number of network participants. Therefore,
it is advantageous to use multiple bridges, for example:
X to reduce the network load in sub-areas,
X to set up redundant connections and
X to overcome distance limitations.
However, using multiple bridges with multiple redundant connections
between the subnetworks can lead to loops and thus the total failure of the
network. In order to avoid this, you can use Spanning Tree. Spanning Tree
enables loop-free switching through the systematic deactivation of redundant
connections. Redundancy ensures the systematic reactivation of individual
connections as needed.
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
RSTP is a further development of the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and is
compatible with it. If a connection or a bridge fails, the STP required a
maximum of 30 seconds to reconfigure. This is no longer acceptable in time-
sensitive applications. RSTP achieves average reconfiguration times of less
than a second. When you use RSTP in a ring topology with 10 to 20 devices,
you can even achieve reconfiguration times in the order of milliseconds.
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