Operation Manual – MSTP 
Quidway S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510  Chapter 1  
MSTP Configuration
 
Huawei Technologies Proprietary 
1-18 
  Caution: 
z  The Forward delay parameter and the network diameter are correlated. Normally, a 
large network diameter corresponds to a large Forward delay. A too small Forward 
delay parameter may result in temporary redundant paths. And a too large Forward 
delay parameter may cause a network unable to resume the normal state in time 
after changes occurred to the network. The default is recommended. 
z  An adequate Hello time parameter enables a switch to be aware of link problems in 
time without occupying too much network resources. A too large Hello time 
parameter may result in normal links being regarded as invalid when packets get 
lost on them, which in turn results in spanning trees being regenerated. And a too 
small Hello time parameter may result in duplicated configuration BPDUs being sent 
frequently, which increases the work load of the switches and wastes network 
resources. The default is recommended. 
z  As for the Max age parameter, if it is too small, network congestions may be falsely 
regarded as link problems, which results in spanning trees being frequently 
regenerated. If it is too large, link problems may be unable to be found in time, which 
in turn handicaps spanning trees being regenerated in time and makes the network 
less adaptive. The default is recommended. 
 
As for the configuration of these three time-related parameters (that is, the Hello time, 
Forward delay, and Max age parameters), the following formulas must be met to 
prevent network jitter. 
2 x (Forward delay – 1 second) >= Max age 
Max age >= 2 x (Hello time + 1 second) 
You are recommended to specify the network diameter of the switched network and the 
Hello time by using the stp root primary or stp root secondary command. After that, 
the three proper time-related parameters are determined automatically. 
II. Configuration example 
# Configure the Forward delay parameter to be 1,600 centiseconds, the Hello time 
parameter to be 300 centiseconds, and the Max age parameter to be 2,100 
centiseconds (assuming that the current switch operates as the CIST root bridge). 
<Quidway> system-view 
[Quidway] stp timer forward-delay 1600 
[Quidway] stp timer hello 300 
[Quidway] stp timer max-age 2100