3. OVERVIEW
Introduction
Spanning Tree Protocol
Spanning Tree Terms
Spanning Tree Operations
LAN Switch Types
Configuring Switches
4. INTRODUCTION
Switching Services
Unlike bridges that use software to create and manage a
filter table, switches use application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs) to build and maintain their filter tables.
A switch can be viewed as a multiport bridge.
Three Switch Functions at Layer 2
1. Address learning: Layer 2 switches and bridges remember
the source hardware address of each frame received on an
interface, and they enter this information into a MAC
database called a forward/filter table.
2. Forward/filter decisions: When a frame is received on an
interface, the switch looks at the destination hardware
address and finds the exit interface in the MAC database.
The frame is only forwarded out the specified destination
port.
3. Loop avoidance: If multiple connections between switches
are created for redundancy purposes, network loops can
occur. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is used to stop network
loops while still permitting redundancy.
6. FORWARD/FILTER DECISIONS
When a frame arrives at a switch interface, the
destination hardware address is compared to the
forward/filter MAC database.
If the destination hardware address is known and
listed in the database, the frame is sent out only the
correct exit interface.
The switch doesn’t transmit the frame out any
interface except for the destination interface.
This preserves bandwidth on the other network
segments and is called frame filtering.
7. LOOP AVOIDANCE
Redundant links between switches are a good idea because they help prevent
complete network failures in the event one link stops working.
the switches will flood broadcasts endlessly throughout the nternetwork.
This is sometimes referred to as a broadcast storm
8. SPANNING TREE PROTOCOL
STP’s main task is to stop network loops from
occurring on your layer 2 network switches.
It monitors the network to find all links, making sure
that no loops occur by shutting down any redundant
links.
STP uses the spanning-tree algorithm (STA) to first
create a topology database, then search out and
destroy redundant links.
With STP running, frames will be forwarded only on
the premium, STP-picked links.
9. SPANNING TREE TERMS
Bridge ID: It is determined by a combination of the bridge priority
(32,768 by default on all Cisco switches) and the base MAC
address. The bridge with the lowest bridge ID becomes the root
bridge in the network.
Root bridge: is the bridge with the best bridge ID (the lowest bridge
ID).
Nonroot bridge: These are all bridges that are not the root bridge.
Nonroot bridges exchange BPDUs with all bridges and update the
STP topology database on all switches.
BPDU: Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) the name of packet that
they send to one neighbor with the one that they receive from
another neighbor.
Root port: The root port is always the link directly connected to the
root bridge, or the shortest path to the root bridge.
10. SPANNING TREE TERMS
Designated port A designated port is one that has been
determined as having the best (lowest) cost. A designated
port will be marked as a forwarding port.
Port cost Port cost determines when multiple links are used
between two switches and none are root ports. The cost of a
link is determined by the bandwidth of a link.
Nondesignated port is one with a higher cost than the
designated port. Nondesignated ports are put in blocking
mode—they are not forwarding ports.
Blocked port A blocked port is the port that will not forward
frames, in order to prevent loops. However, a blocked port will
always listen to frames.
11. SPANNING TREE OPERATIONS
1. Selecting the Root Bridge
2. Selecting the Root Port
3. Selecting the designated (Forward) port.
4. Spanning-Tree Port States
Blocking A blocked port won’t forward frames; it just
listens to BPDUs.
Forwarding The port sends and receives all data
frames on the bridged port.
12. LAN SWITCH TYPES
LAN switch types decide how a frame is handled
when it’s received on a switch port.
There are three switching modes:
1. Cut-through (FastForward)
2. FragmentFree (modified cut-through) the switch
checks the first 64 bytes (caused by collision) of a
frame before forwarding it for fragmentation.
3. Store-and-forward: In this mode, the complete data
frame is received on the switch’s buffer, a CRC is run,
and, if the CRC passes, the switch looks up the
destination address in the MAC filter table.
