4-19
Switch Meshing
Operating Notes for Switch Meshing
Spanning Tree Operation with Switch Meshing
Using MSTP with several switches and no switch meshing configured can
result in unnecessarily blocking links and reducing available bandwidth. For
example:
Figure 4-13. Example Using STP Without and With Switch Meshing
If you are going to use spanning-tree in a switch mesh, all switches in the mesh
should be configured with the same type of spanning-tree: 802.1d/STP, 802.1w/
RSTP, or 802.1s/MSTP. Spanning-Tree interprets a meshed domain as a single
link. However, on edge switches in the domain, MSTP will manage non-
meshed redundant links from other devices. For example:
Switch
Mesh
Domain
Problem:
MSTP enabled and
creating traffic
bottlenecks.
Solution:
Enabling meshing on links between
switch ports removes MSTP blocks
on meshed redundant links.
Switch
Server
Switch
Server
Switch
Switch
Switch
Switch
Meshed
Switch
Server
Meshed
Switch
Server
Meshed
Switch
Meshed
Switch
Switch
Switch
= MSTP Blocking a Redundant Link