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--- spanning_tree_protocol [2024/01/18 11:51] – [Spanning Tree and Portfast] walkeradmin
+++ spanning_tree_protocol [2024/01/18 13:26] (current) – [Introduction] walkeradmin
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 Spanning Tree Protocol essentially stops packet loops (where the same packet transports around your switches constantly) which causes broadcast storms and thus grinds the network to a complete halt.
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+<color #ed1c24>Spanning Tree</color> is a <color #ed1c24>Layer 2</color> Protocol.
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 ==== Spanning Tree and Portfast ====
-Part of the Spanning Tree Protocol is where a port has to change role, say when a device is plugged in to the switch, the switch may have to transition from Blocking mode to Forwarding mode.
+Part of the Spanning Tree Protocol is where a port has to change role, say when a device is plugged in to the switch, the switch may have to transition from Blocking mode to Forwarding mode. PortFast is a Cisco proprietary protocol.
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 Forwarding
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+Any device connected to a port can only connect to the network after transitioning through all of those states. This can take around 30 seconds (or longer if switch is busy). This is why when you plug a device in to a Cisco, it can take 30 seconds before the interface goes green.
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+During this 30 seconds, no user data is available on this port.
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+Spanning Tree <color #ed1c24>Portfast</color> allows a port to transition to the forwarding state immediately, bypassing the <color #ed1c24>Listening</color> and <color #ed1c24>Learning</color> states.
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+Spanning Tree Portfast should be configured on edge ports where you can expect client PCs, Servers, Printers etc. Basically any port that is not part of a STP loop that expects STP messages or BPDUs.
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+Having said that, <color #ed1c24>Portfast</color> will not stop STP operation, if that port receives any STP or BPDU messages, it will revert back to 'normal' mode and participate in <color #ed1c24>Listening</color> and <color #ed1c24>Learning</color> modes.
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+==== Two Switches with Single Link ====
+For what we do with our systems, there are generally two data switches between devices, with a link between them (per VLAN) which looks like this diagram below:
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+{{ :stp_004.png?700 |}}
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+In this example, we can see just a single link from Switch A to Switch B. This means that there cannot be any Loops, so STP would not be required here (although it is worth remember that STP in some form runs on a Cisco be default).
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+Remember this Statement regarding STP - //**When a switch receives a broadcast message, that switch will forward that message out of every interface on that switch, except the one it was received on.
+**//
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+Having STP running is not going to cause any issues, and in fact as a safety measure is still quite good (who knows who might bridge the switches with a second cable).
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