4/28/2008

Spanning Tree Protocol

• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) uses Spanning Tree

Algorithm to avoid the Switching loops in layer-2

devices (bridges or switches).

• STP works when multiple switches are used with

redundant links avoiding Broadcast Storms, Multiple

Frame Copies & Database instability.

• First Developed By DEC

• STP is a open standard (IEEE 802.1D)

Spanning Tree Protocol

Root :A Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

I'm the Root
Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

FA0/24 FA0/23

Switch A

I'm the Root

I'm the Root
Switch B
FA0/24 FA0/23 Switch C

FA0/23 FA0/24
Switch D

Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00002 Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00003

Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00002 Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00003

Root :B Root :C

1
 4/28/2008

Spanning Tree Protocol

Root :A Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

FA0/24 FA0/23
Switch A

I'm the Root

Because MY
ID I'm the Not
is Lesser
Root Because
B ID is Lesser
Switch B
FA0/24 FA0/23

FA0/23 FA0/24
Switch C

Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00002 Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00003

Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00002 Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00002
ID:32768.0000-0000-00003
B Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00002

Root :B Root :B
:C

Spanning Tree Protocol

A Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001
Root :A Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001
Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

FA0/24 FA0/23
Switch A

I'm the Not

Root Because B is not Root
A ID Is Lesser Because A ID
is Lesser
Switch B FA0/24

FA0/23 FA0/24
Switch C
Switch D

Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00002 Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00003

Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001
ID:32768.0000-0000-00002 Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001
ID:32768.0000-0000-00002

Root :A
:B Root :A
:B

2
 4/28/2008

Spanning Tree Protocol

Root :A Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

D Port
D Port
FA0/24 FA0/23
Switch A

Root Port Root Port

FA0/24 D Port Non D. Port FA0/23
Switch B
Switch C
FA0/23 FA0/24

Speed 100 Mbps X

Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00002 Bridge ID:32768.0000-0000-00003
Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001 Root ID:32768.0000-0000-00001

Root :A Root :A

STP Terminology

• BPDU
– All switches exchange information through what is
called as Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs)
– BPDUs contain a lot of information to help the switches
determine the topology and any loops that result from
that topology.
– BPDUs are sent every 2 sec
• Bridge ID
– Each switch has a unique identifier called a Bridge ID or
Switch ID
– Bridge ID = Priority + MAC address of the switch
– When a switch advertises a BPDU , they place their
switch id in these BPDUs.

3
 4/28/2008

STP Terminology

• Root Bridge
– The bridge with the Best (Lowest) ID.
– Out of all the switches in the network , one is elected
as a root bridge that becomes the focal point in the
network.
• Non-Root bridge
– All Switches other than the Root Bridge are Non-Root
Bridges

Switch - Port States

• Disable - No Limits.

• Blocking - 20 Sec Or No Limits.

• Listening - 15 Sec.

• Learning - 15 Sec.

• Forwarding - No Limits.

4
 4/28/2008

Virtual LAN Trunking Protocol

• VTP is a CISCO proprietary protocol

• used to share the VLAN configurations with multiple

switches.

• Information will be passed only if switches

connected with FastEthernet or higher ports.

• Note: Switches Should be configure with same

Domain Name. Domain Names are not Case

sensitive.

VTP Modes

VTP Mode are of three types :

• Server Mode
– A Switch configured in Server mode can Add , Modify
and Delete VLAN’s
– A Default VTP mode for all switches
• Client Mode
– A switch configured in Client mode cannot Add , Modify and
Delete its VLAN configurations
– Doesn’t store its VLAN configuration information in the
NVRAM. Instead , learns it from the server every time it
boots up
• Transparent Mode
– A switch configured in a Transparent Mode can Add ,
Modify and Delete VLAN configurations. Changes in one
transparent switch will not affect any other switch.

5
 4/28/2008

VTP Messages

• Advertisement Request

• Subset Advertisement

• Summary Advertisement

CDP

• Cisco Property Protocol.

• CDP is enable by default in All Cisco Networking Devices.

• CDP Advertisement are send through all the ports by

default.

• CDP Advertisement are send every 60 second.

• Advertisement are send via multicast.

6
 4/28/2008

Advantages Of CDP

• Once the Layer 1 is Active CDP Sends the information to its

neighbor.
• It can be used for Layer 1, layer 2, layer 3 troubleshooting.
• Information
– Logical Address (if define).
– Hostname (given by hostname command).
– Hardware Platform.
– IOS Version.
– Interface Type and Interface Number of local and
remote device connected.

Disadvantages Of CDP

• CDP Can be used only between Cisco Devices.

• Information about only directly connected neighbors can be

known.

• Can be used to troubleshoot only between two Cisco

devices not any other like Pc To switch.