STP/RSTP Test Plan

STP/RSTP Test Plan
Sample Test Plans
Contents
Overview................................................................................................................. 3
1. Spanning Tree Conformance Test.....................................................................3
2. Spanning Tree Root Bridge Election Functional Test.......................................7
3. Spanning Tree Loop Prevention Functional Test..............................................9
4. Spanning Tree Network Convergence Performance Test..............................11
References........................................................................................................... 15
Copyright 2005 Ixia. All rights reserved.

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Ixia and the Ixia logo are trademarks of Ixia. All
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Copyright Ixia, 2005
Ixia
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STP/RSTP Test Plan
STP/RSTP Test Plan

Overview
1. Spanning Tree
Conformance Test
The STP/RSTP Bridging test plan presented

in this document includes functional
and system test scenarios designed for
network and QA engineers testing who are
validating STP/RSTP enabled devices. IEEE
standards 802.1d and 802.1w identify the
various Protocols specific to STP and RSTP,
respectively, that must be validated against
a specific device under test (DUT) prior to
deployment. These tests are considered
baseline testing. Customers are encouraged
to use these tests as the basis for further
test plan development.
This test plan describes the following tests:
Objective
Tree (MSTP) with the following capabilities:

Configuration BPDUs
Topology Change Notification (TCN)
BPDUs
Bridge root election, Root port election,
Port states, Bridging Decision Process, and
Timers
Verify that the DUT complies with Spanning

Tree standards. This test is applicable for
verifying conformance metrics contained in
Spanning Tree 802.1d (STP), Rapid Spanning
Tree 802.1w (RSTP), and Multiple Spanning
1. Spanning Tree Conformance Test

. Spanning Tree Root Bridge Election
Functional Test
3. Spanning Tree Loop Prevention Functional
Test
4. Spanning Tree Network Convergence
Performance Test
Setup
Figure 1. Bridging conformance test setup
STP/RSTP Test Plan
Input Parameters
Two sets of parameters are required prior to
running conformance tests: one for test tool
configuration and one for DUT configuration.
The test tool configuration describes the
Parameter
Test Tool Configuration
DUT Configuration
interface and protocol configuration of the

Ixia chassis using the IxANVL conformance
test suites, while the DUT configuration
describes the STP / RSTP features of the
DUT. See Table 1.
Description
Test various BPDU types and traffic generation,
including Root election, Path cost, Spanning Tree
recalculation.
STP and RSTP features (Port states, Spanning Tree
calculation) and Fast port States for RSTP Network
Convergence, in addition to various timers and
related parameters.
Table 1. Conformance test input parameters

A user friendly interface is provided to help
set up both the test tool configuration and
the specific parameters for the DUT and
IxANVL software to define how IxANVL will
interact with the DUT. These are necessary

steps that must be completed prior to any
IxANVL test execution. See Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 2. IxANVL configuration setup
STP/RSTP Test Plan
Figure 3. IxANVL parameter setup
Methodology
Conformance testing is an important process
necessary to verify how a DUT complies with
specific protocol standards. The conformance
test methodology operates as a dialog: the
test tool send packets to the switch being
tested, then receives the BPDUs sent in
response, and then analyzes the response
to determine the next action to take. This
methodology allows conformance test tools,
such as the Ixia chassis executing IxANVL
conformance test suites, to test complicated
scenarios much more intelligently and
flexibly than is achievable by simple packet
generation and capture devices.
Conformance testing also includes negative

test cases to help validate device response
to Bad and Storming BPDU packets. The
Bridging Spanning Tree conformance test
suite, for example, contains a number of
test cases that run against the DUT based
on the direct interpretation of STP and RSTP
standards. The test methodology is as
follows:
1. Enter parameters to describe both the
Conformance Tester and DUT configuration.
2. Select all or a set of test cases to run
against the DUT. See Figure 4.
3. Run the conformance tests from the user
interface, or in a batch mode via command
scripts.
4. Reconfigure the DUT as required between
test cases to match the test setup.
STP/RSTP Test Plan
Figure 4. Test case selector

Results
The results of the test are provided in the
Test Case Journal where IxANVL tracks as
PASS or FAIL each of the conformance test
performed. This is a high level executive
summary result for reporting. See Figure

5. You can also get more detailed trace
information on any given test case executed
by reviewing the actual test case results
tracked by test case ID as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 5. Test case journal

STP/RSTP Test Plan
Figure 6. Test case results
2. Spanning Tree
Root Bridge Election
Functional Test
Objective
The Spanning Tree root is the central location
of all bridges in a switched network. All
bridges in a Spanning Tree topology must be
able to reach the root directly or indirectly via
another bridge.
Test 2 verifies that the bridge with the lowest

bridge ID becomes the root of the LAN.
The MAC address on the DUT is the lowest
possible address within the LAN by setting
the MAC addresses of all the test ports
higher than the DUT address.
Setup
Test 1 verifies that the bridge with the lowest

bridge ID becomes the root of the LAN. This
test uses a single emulated bridge port
residing on the same LAN communicating
with another bridge device. The Spanning
Tree Protocol uses this topology when
switches are first initialized. This
configuration is modified by port transitioning
and a Spanning Tree algorithm calculation
that stabilizes the Spanning Tree topology.
The initial configuration is one physical test

port to emulate one Spanning Tree bridge
that is connected to one port on the DUT.
An initial Spanning Tree bridge startup state
must be set enabling the DUT to have the
lowest possible bridge ID, therefore making
it the root. The emulated Sender bridge ID
MAC address is set a very high value. Ixias
IxRouter application can be used to set up
and execute this test.
Figure 7. Spanning tree emulated root bridge connected to the DUT

STP/RSTP Test Plan
Input Parameters
Parameters
Root ID
Description
Contains the bridge ID of the root bridge. The root ID
consists of the Priority, System ID, and MAC Address.
After convergence, all configuration BPDUs in the bridged
network should contain the same value for this field
Bridge Mode
Bridge mode type can be Spanning Tree or Rapid
Spanning Tree
Table 2. Spanning Tree emulated bridge input parameters
Methodology
TEST 1- Vary bridge priority
1. The emulated bridge and DUT exchange
BPDUs at startup. BPDUs contain unique
bridge ID (MAC Address), Root Cost, and port
Identifier (MAC address associated with each
port). See Figure 8.
2. Set the emulated bridge to have a
priority of 61440 (highest possible),
making the DUT the Root.
3. The switch with the highest bridge priority

(the lowest numerical priority value), which
in this case is the DUT, becomes the Root
bridge for the LAN
4. Verify the Root bridge election by
checking the actual port state and bridge
status on the DUT. In this case, the DUT port
should be in Designated/Forwarding State.
A stable Spanning Tree topology is achieved
once all bridge ports in the network have
reached their final state (either block or
forwarding).
Figure 8. Spanning Tree root bridge election setup
STP/RSTP Test Plan
TEST 2- Vary MAC Address

1. Set the emulated bridge to have the
highest possible Sender Root bridge MAC
address (all Fs) and default bridge priority
32768, making the DUT bridge the Root.
The switch with the highest bridge priority
(lowest numerical value), including both the

priority ID and MAC address, becomes the
Root bridge. In this case DUT becomes the
Root.
2. Verify the Root bridge election by
checking the actual bridge ports state and
status on the DUT.
the Root bridge. Verification is done on both

the test port and the DUT bridge port.
Results
The success of these tests depends on the
final states of the bridge ports. Depending
on the other bridge ID on the network, the
bridge ID with the lowest priority becomes
The Ixia test port shows in the Spanning

Tree Interfaces/Learned Info the bridge port
in Root/Forwarding state. See Figure 9.
Figure 9. Spanning Tree bridge port state
3. Spanning Tree Loop

Prevention Functional
Test
Objective
This test verifies the fundamental
functionality behind the Spanning Tree
protocol Loop Detection and Prevention.
The network that is running Spanning Tree
protocol is to remain Loop Free at all times
under any network variations and conditions,
which includes variation on the DUT itself
and/or the network connected to the DUT.
One of the network variations can be the
cost to the root from a spanning tree bridge.
Changing the root cost on a bridge causes
topology changes, and forces Spanning Tree
recalculation. A non-root bridge will select
the shortest path to the root making this
path the preferable path to reach the root.

All other paths to the root will be blocked,
preventing from any looping conditions. The
election of the root port for each bridge will
be affected.
Each bridge is to have its own root port. A
root port is the primary port that the bridge
will use to reach the root bridge. This root
port represents the best possible way to
reach the root based on its cost (the lower
the cost the more preferable the path).
Any other redundant path from any given
bridge on the same switched network to
the root bridge will be blocked, eliminating
any possible looping in the Spanning Tree
topology.
STP/RSTP Test Plan
Setup
Each of the two test ports emulates a bridge
connected to two separate physical ports
on the DUT running Spanning Tree Protocol.
At startup, the emulated bridge is the root
bridge for the network (set the emulated

bridge ID to be the lowest ID by changing
priority and/or MAC address). Ixias IxRouter
application can be used to setup and
execute this test.
Figure 10. Spanning Tree Loop prevention setup with two emulated bridges
connected to the DUT
Input Parameters
Parameters
Root ID
Description
consists of the Priority, System ID, and MAC Address.
After convergence, all Configuration BPDUs in the
bridged network should contain the same value for this
field.
Root Cost
The cumulative cost of all links leading to the root bridge.
Bridge Mode
Spanning Tree
Table 3. Spanning Tree Loop prevention input parameters
10 Copyright Ixia, 2005
STP/RSTP Test Plan
Methodology
1. Change BR1 and BR2 sending root bridge
MAC address to CC CC CC CC CC CC and
priority to 4096. The root is the imaginary
emulated root bridge.
2. BR1 and BR2 bridge ports are in
designated Forwarding. One of the DUT
bridge ports is in Alternate/Blocking state,
the other is in Root/Forwarding state.
3. DUT port1 is in Root/Forwarding state.
Select BR1 and change its Path Cost to Root
from 0 to 3, forcing the Spanning Tree to be
recalculated.
4. BR1 and BR2 bridge ports are still in
Designated/Forwarding; however, the ports
states on the DUT alternate.
5. DUT port 1 state is now in Alternate/
Blocking and DUT port 2 state is in Root /
Forwarding state.

NOTE: Every non-root bridge will have a
selected root port
Verification is done on both before and after

the Path Cost to root changes.
Before the Path Cost change on BR1, the
bridge ports state show the following:
Ixia BR1 port 1 Designated/
Forwarding
Forwarding
DUT indicates the imaginary bridge
with MAC is the Root (that is CC CC CC
CC CC CC)
DUT port 1 is Root/Forwarding
DUT port 2 is Alternate/Blocking
The success of the test depends on the final

calculation of the Spanning Tree topology,
the root port election, and the bridge port
states with the Loop Free topology at all
times. Depending on each of the emulated
path cost to the root, a preferable selected
After the Path Cost change on BR1, the

bridge ports state show the following:
Forwarding
Forwarding
The imaginary bridge with MAC is the
Root (shown in the DUT)
Objective
This test case validates the following:
Results
4. Spanning Tree
Network Convergence
Performance Test
path to the root is attained. The selected

path is the preferable lowest path cost to
the root. To avoid looping, the Spanning
Tree Protocol will block the other path from
forwarding traffic.
This test verifies that whenever the Path Cost

to root changes, or a bridge link goes down,
or a bridge stops sending BPDUs during a
traffic generation on a switched LAN, the
Spanning Tree topology is recalculated
to update all bridges on the network with
the latest BPDU topology notification and
changes. This test measures the network
convergence based on the DUT performance
and handling of the Topology Changes
Notifications and Configurations BDPUs as
well as traffic switchover.
DUTs Spanning Tree recalculation

based on new Root Path Cost, a bridge
link failure, or a bridge stops sending
BPDUs
Network topology changes and
convergence due to the occurrence of
any of the previously listed conditions
Traffic switch over from one
emulated bridge port to another due to
the occurrence of any of the previous
listed conditions
STP/RSTP Test Plan
Any traffic forwarded by the emulated bridge

from Host A to Host B through the DUT bridge
will be halted until the complete Spanning
Tree is recalculated, the new Spanning Tree
topology has stabilized, and all network
bridges ports have reached their final state.
After the Spanning Tree is stabilized, the
traffic is switched over from one path to
another. This switchover mechanism should
take about twenty-eight seconds for the
Spanning Tree to complete, and is virtually
immediate for the Rapid Spanning Tree
protocol, since the later is designed with
less port states to cycle through before the
Spanning Tree network topology is stabilized.
Setup
Each of the two test ports emulates a bridge
connected to two separate physical ports on
the DUT running Spanning Tree Protocol. In
addition, a third DUT bridge port is connected
to a non-Spanning Tree emulated test port
for sending and receiving traffic. At startup,
the emulated bridge is the root bridge for
the network (set the emulated bridge ID to
be the lowest ID by changing priority and/or
MAC address). Ixias IxRouter application can
be used to setup and execute this test.
Figure 11. Multiple Spanning Tree emulated bridges connected to the DUT
Input Parameters
Parameters
Root ID
Description
consists of the Priority, System ID and MAC Address.
After convergence, all Configuration BPDUs in the
bridged network should contain the same value for this
field.
Root Cost
The cumulative cost of all links leading to the root bridge.
Bridge Mode
Spanning Tree.
Table 4. Spanning Tree network convergence input parameters
STP/RSTP Test Plan
Methodology
TEST 1- Traffic switch-over due to Path Cost
change
1. Change BR1 and BR2 Sending Root
bridge MAC address to CC CC CC CC CC CC
and priority 4096. The root is the imaginary
emulated root bridge.
. BR1 and BR2 bridge ports are in Root
Forwarding. One of the DUT bridge ports is in
Alternate / Blocking state.
3. Set up two traffic streams on BR1 and
BR2 for the emulated Host B, and stream 3
for the emulated Host A.
TEST 2- Traffic switch over due to one bridge

link down and failover
1. Given that the traffic is been handled
by one of the DUT ports that is connected
to the emulated bridge port via one of the
paths, select this emulated bridge port and
simulate a cable disconnect.
4. Stream 1 on BR1 is set with the Host B

MAC address value for the DUT to learn Host
B MAC address from BR1.
. The same behavior as in previous step is

observed: The Spanning Tree is recalculated
based on the new topology change and the
network converges.
5. Stream 2 on BR2 is set with the Host B

MAC address value for the DUT to learn Host
B MAC address from BR2.
3. The traffic is once again switched over

to the other available path. This process will
only take few seconds.
6. Setup traffic stream 3 on the emulated

traffic receive / generation port for the DUT
to learn Host A MAC address.
TEST 3- Traffic switch over due to one bridge

stopping BPDUs
7. Start traffic streams enabling the DUT to

learn the MAC address of the emulated LAN
nodes.
8. Host A <- -> Host B traffic is going over
one of the available DUT / emulated bridge
Paths. See Figure 11.
9. Select the emulated bridge that is
forwarding the traffic, and change its
Path Cost to Root from 0 to 3, forcing the
Spanning Tree to be recalculated.
10.The traffic is temporarily halted due to the
new topology change occurrence.
11.Once the Spanning Tree is stabilized and
all ports have reached their final states, the
traffic will switch over to the other Path. See
Figure 11.
1.Any other path from any of the bridges

in the network to the root bridge (DUT) that
is not needed in this switched network will
be set to blocking state, avoiding redundant
path to the Root and possible looping
condition.
1. Given that the traffic is been handled by

one of the DUT port that is connected to the
emulated bridge port via one of the paths,
select this emulated bridge and stop its
Spanning Tree protocol.
. The same behavior as in previous step is
observed: The Spanning Tree is recalculated
based on the new topology change and the
network converges since one of the bridge
ports has removed itself from the Spanning
Tree topology.
3. The traffic is once again switched over
to the other available path. This process will
only take few seconds.
Results
The success of the test depends on the
convergence of the Spanning Tree and traffic
STP/RSTP Test Plan
switch over. This process will only take about

15-20 seconds for Spanning Tree mode
(STP) and is virtually immediate for Rapid
Spanning Tree mode (RSTP). The results
shown below are captured for Spanning Tree
mode (STP).
The verification is calculated before and after
the change of the Spanning Tree due to the
new Path cost bridge parameters change.
NOTE: The initial Spanning Tree state

shows that the lowest cost to the root is
the preferable path. To avoid looping, the
Spanning Tree Protocol will block the other
path from forwarding traffic. The other port
will be set as Alternate/Blocking on the DUT.
Before switch over, the bridge ports state
show the following:
Forwarding
Forwarding
DUT indicates the imaginary bridge
with MAC is the Root (that is CC CC CC
CC CC CC)
The traffic is shown passing through Ixia
port 1 as illustrated in Figure 12 below,
identifying the last packet received prior to
switch over.
After switch over, the bridge ports state
should show the following:
Forwarding
Forwarding
The imaginary bridge with MAC is the
Root (shown in the DUT)
The traffic is shown passing through Ixia
port 2 as illustrated in Figure 12 below,
identifying the drop down of packets received
on BR1, the delay (about 28 seconds), then
the traffic picking up with the BR2.
Figure 12. Traffic switch over from BR1 to BR2
STP/RSTP Test Plan
References
The table below presents more information regarding the configuration of a bridge port. Use
this table when changing the bridge port cost. This cost setting affects the reachability of a
given Spanning Tree or Rapid Spanning Tree bridge to the root bridge based on the link type.
Link Speed
4Mbps
10Mbps
16Mbps
100Mbps
1Gbps
10Gbps
Recommended Cost
Recommended Cost Range
250
100 to 1000
100
50 to 600
62
40 to 400
19
10 to 60
4
3 to 10
2
1 to 5
Table 5. Link speed and cost reference table
Ixias IxExplorer provides the capability of

measuring the delay between the last time
traffic was received on port 1 (BR1) and
the first time traffic was received on port
2 (BR2). This measurement is done by
calculating the difference between the time
stamp of the first frame was received on port

2 (BR2) minus time stamp of the last frame
received on port 1 (BR1). For Rapid Spanning
Tree, this measurement is calculated in
milliseconds.
Figure 13. Spanning Tree Switchover Time Calculation
STP/RSTP Test Plan

STP/RSTP Test Plan

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 Copyright Ixia, 2005