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Software Configuration Guide—Release 12.2(25)EW
OL-6696-01
Chapter 1 Product Overview
Layer 2 Software Features
MST
IEEE 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree (MST) allows for multiple spanning tree instances within a single
802.1Q or Inter-Switch Link (ISL) VLAN trunk. MST extends the IEEE 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree
(RST) algorithm to multiple spanning trees. This extension provides both rapid convergence and load
balancing within a VLAN environment.
MST allows you to build multiple spanning trees over trunks. You can group and associate VLANs to
spanning tree instances. Each instance can have a topology independent of other spanning tree instances.
This new architecture provides multiple forwarding paths for data traffic and enables load balancing.
Network fault tolerance is improved because a failure in one instance (forwarding path) does not affect
other instances (forwarding paths).
For information on configuring MST, see Chapter 16, “Understanding and Configuring Multiple
Spanning Trees.”
PVRST+
Per-VLAN Rapid Spanning Tree (PVRST+) is the implementation of 802.1w on a per-VLAN basis. It is
the same as PVST+ with respect to STP mode and runs RSTP protocol based on 802.1w.
For information on configuring PVRST+, see Chapter 14, “Understanding and Configuring STP.”
Spanning Tree Protocol
The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) allows you to create fault-tolerant internetworks that ensure an active,
loop-free data path between all nodes in the network. STP uses an algorithm to calculate the best
loop-free path throughout a switched network.
For information on configuring STP, see Chapter 14, “Understanding and Configuring STP.”
The Catalyst 4500 series switch supports the following STP enhancements:
• Spanning tree PortFast—PortFast allows a port with a directly attached host to transition to the
forwarding state directly, bypassing the listening and learning states.
• Spanning tree UplinkFast—UplinkFast provides fast convergence after a spanning-tree topology
change and achieves load balancing between redundant links using uplink groups. Uplink groups
provide an alternate path in case the currently forwarding link fails. UplinkFast is designed to
decrease spanning-tree convergence time for switches that experience a direct link failure.
• Spanning tree BackboneFast—BackboneFast reduces the time needed for the spanning tree to
converge after a topology change caused by an indirect link failure. BackboneFast decreases
spanning-tree convergence time for any switch that experiences an indirect link failure.
• Spanning tree root guard—Root guard forces a port to become a designated port so that no switch
on the other end of the link can become a root switch.
For information on the STP enhancements, see Chapter 15, “Configuring STP Features.”
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