Spanning-Tree Operation 
802.1D Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) 
In figure 6-13, STP is enabled and in its default configuration on all switches, 
unless otherwise indicated in table 6-5, below: 
Table 6-5.  STP Parameter Settings for Figure 6-13 
STP Parameter  Switch “1”  Switch “2”  Switch “3”  Switch “4” 
Switch Priority  0
1 
1
2 
32,768 (default)  32,768 (default) 
(Fast) Uplink  No  No  No  Ports 3 & 5 
1
This setting ensures that Switch “1” will be the primary root switch for STP in figure 6-13. 
2
This setting ensures that Switch “2” will be the backup root switch for STP in figure 6-13. 
With the above-indicated topology and configuration: 
■  Scenario 1: If the link between switches “4” and “2” goes down, then the 
link between switches “4” and “3” will begin forwarding in as little as ten 
seconds. 
■  Scenario 2: If Switch “1” fails, then: 
•  Switch “2” becomes the root switch. 
•  The link between Switch “3” and Switch “2” begins forwarding. 
•  The link between Switch “2” and the LAN begins forwarding. 
Operating Rules for Fast Uplink 
■  A switch with ports configured for fast uplink must be an edge switch and 
not either an interior switch or the STP root switch. 
Configure fast-uplink on only the edge switch ports used for providing 
redundant STP uplink connections in a network. (Configuring Fast-Uplink 
STP on ports in interior switches can create network performance prob-
lems.) That is, a port configured for STP uplink should not be connected 
to a switch that is sequentially further away from the STP root device. For 
example, switch “4” in figure 
6-13 (page 6-31) is an edge switch. 
■  Configure fast uplink on a group (two or more) of redundant edge-switch 
uplink ports where only one port in the group is expected to be in the 
forwarding state at any given time. 
6-32