Cisco WS-C2960S-48TD-L Software Guide - Page 162

Using STP to Support Redundant Connectivity, Disabling STP, Accelerating Aging to Retain

Page 162 highlights

Configuring STP Chapter 6 Configuring the System Using STP to Support Redundant Connectivity You can create a redundant backbone with STP by connecting two of the switch ports to another device or to two different devices. STP automatically disables one port but enables it if the other port is lost. If one link is high-speed and the other low-speed, the low-speed link is originally disabled. If the two link speeds are the same, the port priority and the port ID are added together, and STP disables the link with the lowest value. You can also create redundant links between switches by using EtherChannel port groups. For more information about creating port groups, see the "Creating EtherChannel Port Groups" section on page 7-7. Disabling STP STP is enabled by default. Disable STP only if you are sure there are no loops in the network topology. Caution When STP is disabled and loops are present in the topology, excessive traffic and indefinite packet duplication can severely reduce network performance. Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to disable STP: Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Command configure terminal no spanning-tree vlan stp-list end show spanning-tree Purpose Enter global configuration mode. Disable STP on a VLAN. Return to privileged EXEC mode. Verify your entry. Accelerating Aging to Retain Connectivity The default for aging dynamic addresses is 5 minutes. However, a reconfiguration of the spanning tree can cause many station locations to change. Because these stations could be unreachable for 5 minutes or more during a reconfiguration, the address-aging time is accelerated so that station addresses can be dropped from the address table and then relearned. The accelerated aging is the same as the forward-delay parameter value when STP reconfigures. Because each VLAN is a separate instance of STP, the switch accelerates aging on a per-VLAN basis. A reconfiguration of STP on one VLAN can cause the dynamic addresses learned on that VLAN to be subject to accelerated aging. Dynamic addresses on other VLANs can be unaffected and remain subject to the aging interval entered for the switch. 6-34 Catalyst 2900 Series XL and Catalyst 3500 Series XL Software Configuration Guide 78-6511-08

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6-34
Catalyst 2900 Series XL and Catalyst 3500 Series XL Software Configuration Guide
78-6511-08
Chapter 6
Configuring the System
Configuring STP
Using STP to Support Redundant Connectivity
You can create a redundant backbone with STP by connecting two of the switch ports to another device
or to two different devices. STP automatically disables one port but enables it if the other port is lost. If
one link is high-speed and the other low-speed, the low-speed link is originally disabled. If the two link
speeds are the same, the port priority and the port ID are added together, and STP disables the link with
the lowest value.
You can also create redundant links between switches by using EtherChannel port groups. For more
information about creating port groups, see the
“Creating EtherChannel Port Groups” section on
page 7-7
.
Disabling STP
STP is enabled by default. Disable STP only if you are sure there are no loops in the network topology.
Caution
When STP is disabled and loops are present in the topology, excessive traffic and indefinite packet
duplication can severely reduce network performance.
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to disable STP:
Accelerating Aging to Retain Connectivity
The default for aging dynamic addresses is 5 minutes. However, a reconfiguration of the spanning tree
can cause many station locations to change. Because these stations could be unreachable for 5 minutes
or more during a reconfiguration, the address-aging time is accelerated so that station addresses can be
dropped from the address table and then relearned. The accelerated aging is the same as the
forward-delay parameter value when STP reconfigures.
Because each VLAN is a separate instance of STP, the switch accelerates aging on a per-VLAN basis.
A reconfiguration of STP on one VLAN can cause the dynamic addresses learned on that VLAN to be
subject to accelerated aging. Dynamic addresses on other VLANs can be unaffected and remain subject
to the aging interval entered for the switch.
Command
Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal
Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
no spanning-tree vlan
stp-list
Disable STP on a VLAN.
Step 3
end
Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 4
show spanning-tree
Verify your entry.