Dell Force10

Spanning Tree Implementation

and Configuration
Module 5

Objectives

Introduction to Spanning Tree

Set Interface Parameters
Layer 2 Protocols
show commands

Debugging
Implementing MSTP

5-2

FTOS Supports The Following

Layer 2 Spanning Tree Protocols
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocols (RSTP)
Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)
Per VLAN Spanning Tree (PVST)
Not covered in this module

5-3

Spanning Tree Protocol Overview

F

F
F

F
5-4

Spanning Tree Protocol Support

FTOS supports one Spanning Tree instance, per 802.1d standard
Spanning Tree Protocol is disabled by default
When you enable Spanning Tree, all interfaces in L2 mode are added
to the Spanning Tree group

5-5

STP Default Values

STG Parameter

5-6

Default Value

Forward Delay

15 seconds

Hello Time

2 seconds

Max Age

20 seconds

Port Cost

4 = 1-Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces

2 = 10-Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces
3 = Port Channel with 1-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
1 = Port Channel with 10-Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces
13 = Port Channel with SONET (OC3) interfaces
5 = Port Channel with SONET (OC12) interfaces
14 = SONET interface with speed at 155 (OC3)
6 = SONET interface with speed at 622 (OC12)

Port Priority

STP Configuration
Configuration tasks for Spanning Tree Protocol

Disable STP on any unwanted L2 interfaces

Modify global STP parameters

Set interface parameters

Cost
Priority
Portfast

Set STP root bridge selection

1.

Enable STP globally

5-7

1. Disable STP on Interfaces

To disable STP on a single port , use the following interface command:
Force10 (conf-interface)# no spanning-tree 0

Force10# (conf-interface-te-0/0)# show conf

!
interface TenGigabitEthernet 0/0
no ip address
switchport
no spanning-tree 0
no shutdown

Note: VLAN, Loopback and Null interfaces do not participate in the Spanning
Tree topology decisions

5-8

2. Modify Global STP Parameters

The forward-delay, hello-time and max-age parameters configure different
BPDU send intervals, and are configurable in protocol spanning-tree mode
using these commands:
Force10(conf-span)# forward-delay seconds
Force10(conf-span)# hello-time seconds
Force10(conf-span)# max-age seconds

5-9

3. Set Interface Parameters

Specific port behaviors can be configured from interface mode using these
commands:
Force10(conf-interface)# spanning-tree 0 cost cost
Force10(conf-interface)# spanning-tree 0 priority
priority-value
Force10(conf-interface)# spanning-tree 0 portfast
The Portfast feature enables interfaces to begin forwarding packets
immediately after they are connected
With Portfast enabled, an interface does not go through the Learning
and Listening states and forwards traffic approximately 30 seconds
sooner
Warning: Enable Portfast only on links connecting to an end
station. Portfast can cause loops if it is enabled on an interface
connected to another switched interface

5-10

4. Set STP Root Bridge Selection

In STP, the algorithm determines the root bridge, but you can assign priority
to each of the bridges
bridge with the lowest number identifier is elected to be the root
To change the bridge priority, use the following command in the
PROTOCOL SPANNING TREE mode:

Force10(conf-span)# bridge-priority {priority-value |

primary | secondary}
Primary = 8192
Secondary = 16384

5-11

5. Enable STP Globally

A.

There is only one spanning tree supported (Instance 0)

B.

To enable STP globally in FTOS, use these commands in the following

sequence in configuration mode
Force10(conf)# protocol spanning-tree stp-id
Force10(conf-span)# no disable

C.

After you enable the Spanning Tree group, all established VLANs and L2
mode interfaces with no shutdown automatically become part of the
Spanning Tree group

D.

When STP is enabled the interfaces in L2 mode start sending Bridge

Protocol Data Units (BPDU)

5-13

5. Enable STP Globally

A.

There is only one spanning tree supported (Instance 0)

B.

To enable STP globally in FTOS, use these commands in the following

sequence in configuration mode
Force10(conf)# protocol spanning-tree stp-id
Force10(conf-span)# no disable

C.

After you enable the Spanning Tree group, all established VLANs and L2
mode interfaces with no shutdown automatically become part of the
Spanning Tree group

D.

When STP is enabled the interfaces in L2 mode start sending Bridge

Protocol Data Units (BPDU)

5-14

Show spanning-tree 0
View STP information for the chassis
Force10# show spanning-tree 0
Executing IEEE compatible Spanning Tree Protocol
Bridge Identifier has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Configured hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
We are the root of the spanning tree
Current root has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Topology change flag not set, detected flag not set
Timers: hold 1, topology change 35
hello 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
Times: hello 1, topology change 0, notification 0, aging Normal
Port 1 (TenGigabitEthernet 0/0) is Disabled
Port path cost 2, Port priority 8, Port Identifier 8.1
Designated root has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Designated bridge has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Designated port id is 8.1, designated path cost 0
Timers: message age 0, forward delay 0, hold 0
Number of transitions to forwarding state 0
BPDU: sent 0, received 0
The port is not in the portfast mode
Port 482 (GigabitEthernet 5/1) is Disabled
Port path cost 4, Port priority 8, Port Identifier 8.482
Designated root has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Designated bridge has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230

5-15

Show spanning-tree 0 brief

View a snapshot of chassis state its interface configuration

Force10# show spanning-tree 0 brief

Executing IEEE compatible Spanning Tree Protocol
Root ID Priority 32768, Address 0001.e805.7230
We are the root of the spanning tree
Root Bridge hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
Bridge ID Priority 32768, Address 0001.e805.7230
Configured hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
Interface
Designated
Name
PortID Prio Cost Sts Cost
Bridge ID
-------------- ------ ---- ---- --- --------------------Te 0/0
8.1
8
2 DIS
0
32768 0001.e805.7230
Gi 5/1
8.482
8
4 DIS
0
32768 0001.e805.7230
Force10#

5-16

Show spanning-tree 0 interface

Use to see interface specific STP information

Force10# show spanning-tree 0 interface

Port 1 (TenGigabitEthernet 0/0) of STP 0 is Disable
Port path cost 2, Port priority 8, Port Identifier
8.1
Designated root has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Designated bridge has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Designated port id is 8.1, designated path cost 0
Timers: message age 0, forward delay 0, hold 0
Number of transitions to forwarding state 0
BPDU: sent 0, received 0
The port is not in the portfast mode
Port 482 (GigabitEthernet 5/1) of STP 0 is Disable
Port path cost 4, Port priority 8, Port Identifier
8.482
Designated root has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Designated bridge has priority 32768, address 0001.e805.7230
Designated port id is 8.482, designated path cost 0
Timers: message age 0, forward delay 0, hold 0
Number of transitions to forwarding state 0
BPDU: sent 0, received 0
The port is not in the portfast mode
Force10#

5-17

PortID
-----8.1
8.482

Show spanning-tree 0 root

Use to see specific STP root information

Force10# show spanning-tree 0 root

Root ID Priority 32768, Address 0001.e805.7230
We are the root of the spanning tree
Root Bridge hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
Force10#

5-18

Show spanning-tree 0 summary

Use to see a summary of the system STP information

Force10# show spanning-tree 0 summary

Root bridge for Spanning Tree 0 is this bridge
Rapid root failover is disabled
State
Num of Ports
Force10#

5-19

Blocking Listening Learning Forwarding STP Active

0,
0,
0,
3,
3

Layer-2
Protocols

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocols
(RSTP)
Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol
(MSTP)

5-20

Rapid Spanning-Tree Protocol

Standardized protocol, 802.1w
Functionally similar to Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP)
Both will generate the same topology but RSTP will converge
much faster
Interoperable with STP and MSTP

5-21

RSTP: States and Roles are Different

RSTP merges states from STP
STP States
Forwarding
Learning

RSTP States
Forwarding

Disabled

STP Roles

RSTP Roles

Root

Root
Designated

Learning

Listening
Blocking

RSTP adds additional roles to STP

Designated

Alternate
Backup

Discarding

Edge

5-22

RSTP Port Roles

Those that FORWARD
Root Port
The port that is the closest to the root
bridge based on path cost, a bridge sends
traffic on this port to the root
Designated Port
The port that is the closest to the root
bridge based on path cost, a bridge receives
traffic on this port from others on the
segment

Root
Bridge
D

Those that DONT Forward

Alternate Port
A port that is an alternate path to the root
on a different bridge than the designated
bridge
Backup Port
A port that is an alternate path to the root
on the designated bridge
Disabled Port
A port that has no role in RSTP
5-23

R
D B

RSTP Port Costs

Default port costs have changed
Be aware of this when running RSTP with STP compatibility

Link Speed

STP (802.1d)
Default Port Costs

RSTP (802.1w)
Default Port Costs

100M

19

200000

1G

20000

10G

2000

100M LAG

18

180000

1G LAG

18000

10G LAG

1800

5-24

RSTP: BPDUs
New BPDU format
New Type 2 and version 2 so .1D bridges must drop PDU
Expanded use from 802.1d Spanning Tree BPDU
All bits of flags now used to communicate additional state
Version 1 only used topology change bits (0 & 7)
BPDUs sent every <hello-time> seconds (2 by default)
Even if it does not receive BPDUs from the root bridge
Acts as keep alive between bridges
Allows much faster failure detection
RSTP Flag Byte
0
Topology
Change

5-25

1
Proposal

3
Port Role

4
Learning

Forwarding Agreement

7
Topology
Change
ACK

RSTP: Why Rapid?

STP
based on timers to allow BPDUs to
flow from root to all leaves

stays a set time in listening and

learning modes to gather all
available BPDU information to
decide port state

RSTP
uses BPDUs as keepalives
between adjacent switches

establishes state before passing

information to the downstream
device

5-26

RSTP: Example
Root

5-27

RSTP: Example
Root

5-28

RSTP: Example
Root

5-29

RSTP: Example
Root

5-30

RSTP Configuration
1.
2.

Disable STP on any unwanted L2 interfaces

Modify other global bridge settings (bridge-priority, forward-delay, hellotime, max-age)
3. Set interface parameters
a)
Cost
b)
Priority
c)
Portfast
4. Configure edge ports, if needed
Force10(conf)# interface g0/1
Force10(conf-interface-gi-0/1)# spanning-tree rstp
edge-port

If a port is in edge-port mode it will behave as a normal port if a BPDU

is received
5. Enable RSTP globally, it will then run on all L2 ports
Force10(conf)# protocol spanning-tree rstp
Force10(conf-rstp)# no disable

5-31

Command:
show spanning-tree rstp brief
Force10# show spanning-tree rstp brief
Executing IEEE compatible Spanning Tree Protocol
Root ID
Priority 32768, Address 0001.e802.bb7b
Root Bridge hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
Bridge ID
Priority 32768, Address 0001.e802.bb7b
We are the root
Configured hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15

5-32

Interface
Name
---------Po 2
Po 5

PortID
-------128.3
128.6

Interface
Name
---------Po 2
Po 5

Role
-----Desg
Desg

Prio
---128
128

Cost
------18000
18000

PortID
-------128.3
128.6

Prio
---128
128

Sts
--FWD
FWD

Designated
Cost
Bridge ID
PortID
------- -------------------- -----0
32768 0001.e802.bb7b 128.3
0
32768 0001.e802.bb7b 128.6

Cost
------18000
18000

Sts
--FWD
FWD

Cost
------0
0

Link-type
--------P2P
P2P

Edge
---No
No

Confidential

Command:
show spanning-tree rstp interface <name>
Force10# show spanning-tree rstp interface port-channel 2
Port-channel 2 is designated forwarding
Edge port:no (default) port guard :none (default)
Link type: point-to-point (auto) bpdu filter:disable (default)
Bpdu guard :disable (default)
Bpdus sent 3502, received 269
Interface
Designated
Name
PortID
Prio Cost
Sts Cost
Bridge ID
PortID
--------- -------- ---- ------- --- ------- -------------------- ------Po 2

5-33

128.3

128

18000

FWD 0

32768 0001.e802.bb7b 128.3

Command:
show spanning-tree rstp
Force10# show spanning-tree rstp
Root Identifier has priority 32768, Address 0001.e802.bb7b
Root Bridge hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15, max hops 0
Bridge Identifier has priority 32768, Address 0001.e802.bb7b
Configured hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15, max hops 0
We are the root
Current root has priority 32768, Address 0001.e802.bb7b
Number of topology changes 78, last change occured 03:38:08
Port 3 (Port-channel 2) is designated Forwarding
Port path cost 18000, Port priority 128, Port Identifier 128.3
Designated root has priority 32768, address 0001.e802.bb7b
Designated bridge has priority 32768, address 0001.e802.bb7b
Designated port id is 128.3, designated path cost 0
Number of transitions to forwarding state 74
BPDU : sent 3628, received 302
The port is not in the Edge port mode
<>

5-34

Confidential

RSTP Debugging
Many debug options to trace RSTP PDUs and events

Force10# debug spanning-tree rstp ?

all
RSTP all debug
bpdu
RSTP debug BPDU
events
RSTP debug events

5-35

Layer-2
Protocols

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocols
(RSTP)
Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol
(MSTP)

5-36

Multiple Spanning-Tree Protocol (802.1s)

802.1q standard specified only one Spanning-Tree Instance for all VLANs
Many vendors provide separate Spanning-Tree Instance for every VLAN
Uses too much CPU time and sends too many BPDUs to be scalable
MSTP uses the best of both systems to create a flexible and scalable solution
Creates a finite number of Spanning-Tree Instances and maps each of
the VLANs in the networks to one of the Instances
Allows for all segments to be utilized while only requiring a few Instances
of the Spanning-Tree Algorithm
Uses RSTP as its convergence algorithm

5-37

STP: 802.1q Example

VLANs 1-4

VLANs 1-4

VLANs 1-4

5-38

PVST Example
1
2
3
4

3
4

5-39

3
4

MSTP: MSTP Example

1,3
2,4

1,3

1,3

2,4

2,4

5-40

MSTP: BPDUs
There is only one MSTP Instance that sends and receives MSTP
BPDUs
The other Instance information is encapsulated in the MSTP BPDUs
Similar to Per VLAN Spanning Tree
Limits the number of BPDUs to 1 instead of to the number of VLANs

5-41

MSTP: Definitions
MST Region
Contiguous group of switches that share the same MSTP
configuration
Common Spanning-Tree (CST)
The Spanning-Tree Instance external to the region

Internal Spanning-Tree (IST)

Special Spanning-Tree Instance that interacts with the CST
MST Instance (MSTI)
These are the Spanning-Tree Instances used internal to a region that
the VLANs are mapped to

5-42

MSTP: Regions
Each MSTP Region is configured with
A mapping of VLANs to MSTIs mandatory
Name (*optional)
Revision number (*optional)

When a switch is connected to another

switch with different characteristics, it is
considered to be in another Region
Whenever possible, all switches in the
network should be in the same Region

5-43

*Every switch in the Region

must be configured with
these exact same 3 values

MSTP: Regions

5-44

MSTP: IST
The IST is important because this is the Instance that interacts with the CST
The IST allows the Region to appear to the CST as a single switch
This allows MSTP to interoperate with legacy environments
The IST is also present internal to the region
VLANs can be mapped to the IST, but in general should not be
The IST is the Instance that sends and receives BPDUs

5-45

MSTP: IST

IST

5-46

MSTP: IST

5-47

MSTP: MSTI
The MSTIs are all internal to the Region
All VLANs in the region will be mapped to one of the MSTIs
Each Region can support up to 64 MSTIs, although in practice, only two or
three are usually necessary
There are not separate BPDUs for each MSTI
A BPDU sent between two switches contains information about all of the
MSTIs

5-48

MSTP: MSTI
1,3
2,4

5-49

1,3

1,3

2,4

2,4

MSTP: MSTI
MSTI 1
VLANs 1,3

5-50

Confidential

MSTP: MSTI
MSTI 2
VLANs 2,4

5-51

MSTP: Basic Configuration Steps

1.

Map VLANs to Instances (mandatory)

2. Modify global MSTP parameters (optional)

3. Disable MSTP on interfaces (optional)
4. Set MSTP interface parameters (optional)
5.

Enable MSTP globally (mandatory)

5-52

1. MSTIs to VLAN Mapping

All VLANs are mapped to Instance 0 when MSTP is enabled
Instance 0 can not be used to carry internal VLAN information
To change the VLAN mapping use the following command in MSTP
mode:
Force10(conf-mstp)# msti <instance-number> vlan
<vlan-range>
Note all mappings must be the same on every router in the region

5-53

2. Modify Global MSTP Parameters

(optional)
The following MSTP parameters can be modified in MSTP configuration
mode:
Forward-delay
Hello-timer
Max-age
Max-hop
Bridge-priority (per MSTI)
Force10(conf-mstp)# msti <msti_#> bridge-priority
<priority>
* Name
Force10(conf-mstp)# name <name>
* Revision
Force10(conf-mstp)# revision <number>
* If Name and Revision are configured they must be the same on every router
in the region

5-54

3. Disable MSTP on interfaces (optional)

When MSTP is enabled globally, every layer-two interface is automatically
enabled in MSTP

Layer-three interfaces are not enabled in MSTP

To disable MSTP:
Force10(conf-interface)# no spanning-tree

5-55

4. Modify MSTP Interface Parameters

On each interface, the cost and priority for MSTP can be modified with the
following interface commands:
Force10(conf-interface)# spanning-tree msti <instance> cost
<value>
Force10(conf-interface)# spanning-tree msti <instance>
priority <value>
To make an interface an edge-port, use the following command in interface
mode:
Force10(conf-interface)# spanning-tree mstp edge-port

5-56

5. Enable MSTP Globally

By default, MSTP is not enabled in FTOS

Force10(conf)# protocol spanning-tree mstp
Force10(conf-mstp)# no disable

5-57

MSTP: Example
Switch A

Switch B
1/1

2/1

1/2

2/2

MSTI 1
VLANs 1,3

MSTI 2
VLANs 2,4
Switch C
3/1

3/2

5-58

MSTP: Example Configuration Switch A

protocol spanning-tree MSTP
no disable
msti 1 vlan 1,3
msti 2 vlan 2,4
name labmstp1
revision 1
msti 1 bridge-priority 4096
interface gigabitethernet 1/1
switchport
no shutdown
spanning-tree msti 1 priority 112
spanning-tree msti 2 priority 112
interface gigabitethernet 1/2
switchport
no shutdown
spanning-tree msti 1 priority 112
spanning-tree msti 2 priority 224

5-59

Command:
show spanning-tree msti <instance>
Shows a particular MSTI and the interfaces configured in it
Force10# sh spanning-tree msti 1
MSTI 1 VLANs mapped 1, 3
Bridge Identifier has priority 4096, Address 0001.e803.cf63
Configured hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15, max hops 20
Current root has priority 4096, Address 0001.e803.cf63
Number of topology changes 7, last change occured 21:39:18
Port 82 (GigabitEthernet 1/1) is designated Forwarding
Port path cost 20000, Port priority 112, Port Identifier 112.82
Designated root has priority 4096, address 0001.e803.cf:63
Designated bridge has priority 4096, address 0001.e803.cf:63
Designated port id is 112.82, designated path cost
Number of transitions to forwarding state 2
BPDU (Mrecords): sent 4229, received 7941
The port is not in the Edge port mode

5-60

Command:
show spanning-tree mstp <instance> brief
Shows a particular MSTI and the interfaces configured in it in a tabular format
Force10# show spanning-tree msti 1 brief
MSTI 1 VLANs mapped 1, 3
Executing IEEE compatible Spanning Tree Protocol
Root ID
Priority 4096, Address 0001.e803.cf63
Root Bridge hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15, max hops 20
Bridge ID
Priority 4096, Address 0001.e803.cf63
Configured hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15, max hops 20

5-61

Interface
Name
---------Gi 1/1
Gi 1/2

PortID
------112.82
112.88

Interface
Name
---------Gi 1/1
Gi 1/2

Role
-----Desg
Desg

Prio
---112
112

Cost
-----20000
20000

PortID
------112.82
112.88

Prio
---112
112

Sts
--FWD
FWD

Designated
Cost
Bridge ID
------ -------------------0
4096 0001.e803.cf63
0
4096 0001.e803.cf63

Cost
-----20000
20000

Sts
--FWD
FWD

Cost
-----0
0

Link-type
----------P2P
P2P

PortID
------112.82
112.88

Module
Summary

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocols (RSTP)
Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol
(MSTP)

5-62