Dell PowerConnect W-IAP Remote Configuration Guide - Page 380

10 Metro Ring Protocol (MRP) FIGURE 58 Metro ring - normal state Customer A F F Switch B F F Customer A F Switch C F This interface blocks Layer 2 traffic to prevent a loop F Switch A Master Node B F Customer A Switch D F F F Customer A The ring in this example consists of four MRP nodes (Dell PowerConnect switches). Each node has two interfaces with the ring. Each node also is connected to a separate customer network. The nodes forward Layer 2 traffic to and from the customer networks through the ring. The ring interfaces are all in one port-based VLAN. Each customer interface can be in the same VLAN as the ring or in a separate VLAN. One node is configured as the master node of the MRP ring. One of the two interfaces on the master node is configured as the primary interface; the other is the secondary interface. The primary interface originates Ring Health Packets (RHPs), which are used to monitor the health of the ring. An RHP is forwarded on the ring to the next interface until it reaches the secondary interface of the master node. The secondary interface blocks the packet to prevent a Layer 2 loops. 338 PowerConnect B-Series FCX Configuration Guide 53-1002266-01