Table 9-1 Comparison between STP, RSTP, and MSTP
Spanning Tree
Protocols
Characteristics Application
Scenarios
Precautions
STP A loop-free tree is generated.
Thus, broadcast storms are
prevented and redundancy is
implemented.
Irrespective of
different users or
services, all
VLANs share one
spanning tree.
NOTE
l If the current
switching
device
supports
only STP,
STP is
recommende
d. For
details, see
STP/RSTP
Configurati
on.
l If the current
switching
device
supports
both STP
and RSTP,
RSTP is
recommende
d. For
details, see
STP/RSTP
Configurati
on.
l If the current
switching
device
supports
STP or
RSTP, and
MSTP,
MSTP is
recommende
d.
RSTP
l A loop-free tree is
generated. Thus,
broadcast storms are
prevented and redundancy
is implemented.
l A feedback mechanism is
provided to confirm
topology convergence.
Thus, rapid convergence
is implemented.
MSTP
l A loop-free tree or some
loop-free trees are
generated. Thus,
broadcast storms are
prevented and redundancy
is implemented.
l A feedback mechanism is
provided to confirm
topology convergence.
Thus, rapid convergence
is implemented.
l MSTP implements load
balancing among VLANs.
Traffic in different
VLANs is transmitted
along different paths.
User or service-
specific load
balancing is
required. Traffic
for different
VLANs is
forwarded
through different
spanning trees,
which are
independent of
each other.
Introduction
On a complex network, loops are inevitable. With the requirement for network redundancy
backup, network designers tend to deploy multiple physical links between two devices, one of
which is the master and the others are the backup. Loops are likely or bound to occur in such a
situation.
Loops will cause broadcast storms, thereby exhausting network resources and paralyzing the
network. Loops also cause flapping of MAC address tables and thus damages MAC address
entries.
MSTP, compatible with STP and RSTP, isolates service traffic and user traffic by using multiple
instances and provides multiple paths to load balance VLAN traffic.
Quidway S7700 Smart Routing Switch
Configuration Guide - Ethernet 9 MSTP Configuration
Issue 01 (2011-07-15) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential
Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
420
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