STP RSTP MSTP

Foreword
 STP is used to prevent loops in the LAN. The switching devices running STP discover loops on the
network by exchanging information with one another, and block certain interfaces to cut off loops.
STP/RSTP/MSTP  STP can solve loop issues, but slow network convergence affects the communication quality. If the
network topology changes frequently, the connections on the network where STP is deployed are
frequently torn down, causing frequent service interruption. This is intolerable for users.
 Due to limitations of STP, IEEE released 802.1w in 2001 to define RSTP. RSTP enhances STP and
implements fast convergence of Layer 2 network topology.
 However, both RSTP and STP have a significant shortcoming: All VLANs on a LAN use one spanning tree,
www.huawei.com making VLAN-based load balancing impossible. Once a link is blocked, it will no longer transmit traffic,
wasting bandwidth and causing the failure in forwarding certain VLAN packets.
 MSTP implements fast convergence and provides multiple paths to load balance VLAN traffic.
Copyright © 2017 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2017 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 1
Objectives Contents
 Upon completion of this section, you will be able to: 1. Limitations of STP
 Be familiar with similarities and differences between RSTP and STP 2. Improvements in RSTP
 Master the working principle of RSTP
3. Principles of MSTP
 Master the working principle of MSTP
Copyright © 2017 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 2 Copyright © 2017 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 3
1
Problem 1: Switches Run STP in Problem 2: The Switch Has the Blocked
Initialization Scenarios Port and the Root Port Goes Down
 The duration from initialization to full convergence is at least 30s.
 The direct link between SWC and SWA goes Down. The blocked port
ROOT
SWA switches to the root port and enters the forwarding state. This process
STP-enabled switches wait for timeout
At the beginning, switches DP
send and monitor BPDUs and
DP of timers to determine all collected
BPDUs, and then perform STP
requires at least 30s.
calculate the spanning tree.
calculation.
SWA ROOT To ensure that topology change
RP RP
information is spread on the entire
DP DP
Blocked Port network and all devices complete topology
DP change, the new root port must wait for
timeout of timers and then enters the
SWB SWC forwarding state.
Listening RP RP
To prevent loops, STP must wait for a long time (BPDUs can be sent to
15s each node) to ensure that the port status of the entire network is SWC
DP Blocked Port
Learning
determined. Then STP enters the Forwarding state.
SWB
Learning
Before entering the forwarding state, STP creates a MAC address table The blocked port becomes the new root port
15s and is in blocking state.
based on received user traffic. STP enters the Forwarding state when
It enters the forwarding state after two
Forwarding the timer expires. intervals of Forward Delay.
Problem 3: The Switch Has No Blocked Problem 4: The STP-enabled Switches

Port and the Root Port Goes Down Connect to User Terminals
 The time for the link between the switch and user terminal to enter the
 The direct link between SWB and SWA goes down. The blocked port of
forwarding state is 30s.
SWC switches to the designated port and enters the forwarding state.
This process requires about 50s. ROOT
SWA
ROOT
SWA DP DP
③ When the BPDUs buffered on the port
expire, network convergence is performed
DP DP again. The port enters the forwarding state
No loop occurs if the port connects to
after two intervals of Forward Delay (30s).
RP terminals. There is no need to perform STP
RP calculation and wait for the timeout of
timers.
In STP, other ports except the designated port
RP SWB
RP ③ BPDU (SWA is the do not process the received suboptimal BPDUs. SWC
root bridge)
DP BP
SWB DP
① BPDU (SWB is the SWC
In STP, the time for the link connected
root bridge) Blocked Port BPDU BPDU to a user terminal to perform STP
① SWB sends BPDUs calculation and enter the forwarding
② The blocked port does not
with itself as the root. state is two intervals of Forward Delay.
process the received
suboptimal BPDUs, and waits
for the timeout of the PCA PCB
suboptimal BPDUs (20s).
2
Problem 5: STP Topology Change STP Limitation - Port Roles
 When the topology changes, TCN BPDUs are sent to the root bridge. The upstream bridge Root Port
32768. 32768.
that receives the TCN BPDUs sends TCA BPDUs. After the TCN BPDUs reach the root 00e0-fc16-ee43 00e0-fc22-715a
bridge, the root bridge sends TC BPDUs to notify devices of deleting MAC address entries. Designated Port
SWA SWB
This implementation is complex and the efficiency is low. Root Bridge
SWA Root Root Port Blocked Port

After the root port on SWC goes
DP DP SWC Down, the root port is selected
32768.
00e0-fc41-4259 among three ports and enters
E0/1 E0/2 Blocked Port the forwarding state upon
RP RP timeout of timers.
Designated Port
SWB SWC HUB
DP DP DP
TCN Root Port
RP TCA
RP RP 32768.
TC 00e0-fc41-43b9 SWD
SWD SWE SWF SWG
STP Limitation - Port States Contents

STP Port State Action 1. Limitations of STP
Disabled 2. Improvements in RSTP

The port does not forward user 3. Principles of MSTP
Blocking
traffic or learn MAC addresses. The three port states
correspond to the same
Listening action, increasing the
difficulty in usage.
The port does not forward user
Learning traffic but learns MAC
addresses.
The port forwards user traffic
Forwarding
and learns MAC addresses.
3
Re-classification of Port Roles Re-classification of Port States
 RSTP adds two port roles: backup port and alternate port.  RSTP deletes two port states in STP.
Root Port STP Port State RSTP Port State Action

32768. 32768.
00e0-fc16-ee43 00e0-fc22-715a
Disabled
SWA Designated Port A port that does not forward user traffic
SWB
Root Bridge From the perspective of forwarding
Blocking Discarding or learn MAC addresses is in Discarding
Root Port Alternate
user traffic, the alternate port provides state.
a path from the designated switch to Listening
Port the root switch.
SWC A port that does not forward user traffic
32768.
00e0-fc41-4259 From the perspective of forwarding Learning Learning but learns MAC addresses is in Learning
E0/1 E0/2 Backup Port
user traffic, a backup port used as a
backup of the designated port provides
state.
a backup path from the root switch to
Designated Port HUB the leaf node.
A port that forwards user traffic and
Forwarding Forwarding learns MAC addresses is in Forwarding
Root Port
state.
32768.
00e0-fc41-43b9 SWD
Solution 1 to Problem 1: P/A mechanism Solution 1 to Problem 1: P/A mechanism

(1/3) (2/3)
 Phase 1 ROOT
 Principles of P/A mechanism SWA
DP DP
Port state Discarding P P
P P
Port role DP
DP DP
② Synchronize variables (block other ports
Reset Proposal bit except the edge port to prevent loops).
of 1 SWB P DP
SWC
DP
① BPDU with the Proposal bit of 1
P
SWA SWB
Bridge priority of
Bridge ③ BPDU with the Agreement bit of 1  Phase 2
priority
4096  Phase 3
ROOT ROOT
of 0 SWA SWA
Port state Forwarding
④ Receive BPDUs with the Agreement DP DP
DP DP
bit of 1. Port role RP
A A
The port enters the Forwarding state.
Reset Agreement bit
of 1 RP RP RP
RP
 Characteristics: The acknowledgement and synchronization mechanisms are used, so SWB SWC SWB SWC
DP DP DP AP
there is no need to use timers to ensure a loop-free network. P
4
Solution 1 to Problem 1: P/A mechanism Solution to Problem 2: Fast Switching of
(3/3) the Root Port
 The election principles of STP and RSTP are similar: electing the
root switch, root port of the non-root-switch, designated port,  The direct link between SWC and SWA goes down. The alternate
and alternate port and backup port in sequence. port switches to the root port and enters the forwarding state
within seconds.
 RSTP adds the Proposal/Agreement mechanism. There is the
ROOT To accelerate the convergence time, after the
acknowledgement mechanism during negotiation, so RSTP- SWA old root port fails, the new root port should
immediately transition to the Forwarding
DP DP state if there is no loop. The alternate port
enabled switches can forward BPDUs, without depending on can immediately enter the forwarding state
because this requirement is considered during
timers to ensure the loop-free network topology. RSTP-enabled RP RP
election.
switches only need to consider the time for sending BPDUs and DP SWC
AP
calculating a loop-free topology (usually within seconds). SWB ① Immediately become
the new root port and
enter the Forwarding state.
Solution to Problem 3: Processing of

Solution to Problem 4: Edge Port
Suboptimal BPDUs
 The direct link between SWB and SWA goes down. The alternate  In RSTP, the switch interface connected to a terminal can
port of SWC switches to the designated port and enters the immediately enter the Forwarding state.
forwarding state within seconds. ROOT
SWA
③ When receiving higher-priority ROOT
BPDUs, SWB re-defines port roles SWA DP DP After the switch port connected to the
immediately. SWB changes the ④ After SWC receives the terminal is configured as the edge port, the
designated port to the root port and DP DP Agreement packet, it edge port immediately enters the
sends BPDUs with the Agreement bit immediately enters the RSTP-enabled switches do not depend on forwarding state. After the edge port
of 1. Forwarding state. timeout of timers to process suboptimal BPDUs. receives BPDUs, the edge port becomes a
Instead, they send optimal BPDUs to the RP
RP common STP port and the spanning tree is
remote end, speeding up topology
recalculated.
convergence.
RP RP SWB
③ Agreement DP BP SWC
SWB
DP AP SWC Edge port Edge port
① Proposal
Configure the port
② Proposal connected to the terminal
① SWB used as the root bridge ② After the alternate port as the edge port.
sends BPDUs with the Proposal receives the suboptimal BPDUs,
bit of 1. it immediately sends optimal
BPDUs to the remote end and
switches to the designated port.
PCA PCB
5
Solution to Problem 5: Topology Change
Problems Caused by Topology Changes
Optimization
SWA ④ MAC address table of SWA
 Topology change identification: The non-edge port enters the
Root Destination MAC
Port
Address
Forwarding state. Root DP
E1
DP MAC address of PCA
SWA ⑤ SWA forwards traffic E1 E2 ... ...
When the network topology changes, the ⑦ The MAC address table of
switch at the change point directly sends ③ SWC forwards traffic the switch records the
a BPDU with the TC field of 0. This ⑥ Traffic is discarded LAN A LAN B incorrect port.
shortens the network convergence time
because the switch at the change point RP
does not need to notify the root switch or SWB SWC RP SWC ② MAC address table of SWC
send TC BPDUs on the entire network. E1 E1
SWB LAN C Destination MAC
Port
E2 DP AP E2 Address
MAC address of PCA E1
Edge port Edge port ... ...
SWD SWG
① PCB accesses PCA
Forwarding SWE SWF
PCA PCB
RST BPDU with
PC the TC field of 1
Processing of Topology Changes (1/4) Processing of Topology Changes (2/4)

SWA SWA
Root Root
E1 E2 E1 E2 After the switch receives BPDUs with

the TC field of 1, it clears MAC
addresses learned by other non-edge
ports except the non-edge port that
MAC address table of SWB LAN A LAN B LAN A LAN B receives the packets.
Destination MAC
Port
Address SWB SWC SWB SWC MAC address table of SWC
MAC address of LANA E1 E1 E1 E1 E1 Destination MAC
MAC address of LANB E1 LAN C LAN C Address
Port
MAC address of LANC E2 E2 E2 E2 E2
E1 MAC address of LANA E1
MAC address of PCB E3
MAC address of PCA E3 New root port TC Edge port New root port TC Edge port
E3 MAC address of LANB E1
MAC address of LANC E1
... ... E1
MAC address of PCA
MAC address of PCB E3
... ...
PCA PCB PCA PCB
6
Processing of Topology Changes (3/4) Processing of Topology Changes (4/4)
MAC address table of SWA
Destination MAC
Port SWA
SWA Address
MAC address of LANA E1 Root
Root MAC address of LANB E2
MAC address of LANC E1
E1 E2
MAC address of PCA E1
E1 E2
MAC address of PCB E2 MAC address table of SWB
... ... Destination MAC
Port LAN A LAN B
LAN A Address
LAN B
MAC address of LANA E1
MAC address of LANB E1 SWB SWC
SWB SWC MAC address of LANC E2 E1 E1
E1 E1 MAC address of PCB E1 LAN C
LAN C MAC address of PCA E3 E2 E2
E2 E2 ... ... E3
Edge port New root port TC Edge port

E3 The fault of the edge The Up event of the edge Edge port
Edge port port does not trigger port does not trigger the
the topology change. topology change.
PCA PCB
PCA PCB
BPDU Protection (1/2) BPDU Protection (2/2)

SWA SWA
⑤ Recalculate the spanning tree
Root
Root
DP DP
DP DP
⑤ Recalculate the
spanning tree
The port that receives BPDUs is
SWB RP shut down immediately. This
RP
can effectively prevent network SWB RP RP
SWC
DP AP flapping.
SWC DP AP
④ RST BPDU
Edge port
② RST BPDU
Edge port Enable BPDU protection

③ After the edge port receives BPDUs,
RST BPDU
it becomes the non-edge port and the

spanning tree is recalculated.
① A hacker connects
to an STP-enabled When the new switch sends BPDUs,
switch through the spanning tree calculation of other
edge port. switches is triggered. As a result, network
flapping occurs.
7
Root Protection (1/2) Root Protection (2/2)
② SWA receives higher-priority RST BPDUs,
SWA recalculates the spanning tree, and loses the
role of the root switch. As a result, the network
Root topology incorrectly changes. SWA When the port receives higher-priority RST BPDUs, it enters
DP DP
Root the Discarding state and does not forward packets. If the
port does not receive RST BPDUs with a higher priority in a
① The hacker connects a DP DP period of time, it enters the Forwarding state.
switch with the highest
priority to the network.
SWB RP RP SWC
RST BPDU RST BPDU
AP DP SWB RP RP SWC
RST BPDU
AP DP
New Root
Enable root protection
TC Protection (1/2) TC Protection (2/2)

SWA
SWA
Root
The switch will receive a large number of TC Root
BPDUs within a short period of time, and DP
delete its MAC entries and ARP entries DP
DP DP
frequently. As a result, the switch is heavily
burdened, threatening the network stability. The number of TC BPDUs that a
switch receives within a given
SWB SWC period of time can be set. The
RP
RP switch processes TC BPDUs for the SWB RP RP
SWC
DP AP specified number of times.
DP AP
Edge port ③ The switch frequently

② TC BPDU
Edge port
deletes MAC address
Configure TC protection
TC BPDU
entries.
① The hacker connects

a PC to the edge port The hacker connects a
to send bogus BPDUs PC to the edge port to
continuously. send bogus TC BPDUs
continuously.
8
RSTP Configuration Requirements RSTP Configuration Procedure
stp enable
stp mode rstp
SWA SWA stp root primary
G0/0/1 G0/0/1 G0/0/2

G0/0/2
G0/0/1 G0/0/2 G0/0/2

G0/0/1
PC1 G0/0/4 G0/0/3 G0/0/4

PC2 PC1 G0/0/4 G0/0/3 G0/0/4
PC2
G0/0/3 G0/0/3
SWB SWC SWB SWC
 As shown in the preceding figure, SWA, SWB, and SWC form a ring stp enable
stp mode rstp
stp enable
stp mode rstp
stp bpdu-protection stp bpdu-protection
switching network. To eliminate the impact of loops on the network, interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/4 interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/4
stp edged-port enable stp edged-port enable
the switches run RSTP to prune the ring network into a loop-free tree
network.
RSTP
RSTP Configuration Verification (1/2) RSTP Configuration Verification (2/2)

 Check STP information on SWA.  Check STP information on SWB.
<SWA>display stp brief [SWB]display stp brief

MSTID Port Role STP State Protection MSTID Port Role STP State Protection
0 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 DESI FORWARDING NONE 0 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 ROOT FORWARDING NONE
0 GigabitEthernet0/0/2 DESI FORWARDING NONE 0 GigabitEthernet0/0/3 DESI FORWARDING NONE
0 GigabitEthernet0/0/4 DESI FORWARDING BPDU
<SWA>display stp
-------[CIST Global Info][Mode RSTP]-------
 Check STP information on SWC.
CIST Bridge :0 .4c1f-cc5f-55e4
Config Times :Hello 2s MaxAge 20s FwDly 15s MaxHop 20 <SWC>display stp brief
Active Times :Hello 2s MaxAge 20s FwDly 15s MaxHop 20 MSTID Port Role STP State Protection
CIST Root/ERPC :0 .4c1f-cc5f-55e4 / 0 0 GigabitEthernet0/0/2 ROOT FORWARDING NONE
CIST RegRoot/IRPC :0 .4c1f-cc5f-55e4 / 0 0 GigabitEthernet0/0/3 ALTE DISCARDING NONE
CIST RootPortId :0.0 0 GigabitEthernet0/0/4 DESI FORWARDING BPDU
BPDU-Protection :Disabled
CIST Root Type :Primary root
9
Limitations of a Single Spanning Tree -
Contents
Some VLAN Paths Are Unreachable
1. Limitations of STP
Permit packets from
DP VLANs RP
2. Improvements in RSTP SWA SWB
DP DP
3. Principles of MSTP Root VLAN2 VLAN2 This path is disconnected
VLAN3 and the path of VLAN 3 is
unreachable
RP AP
Discarding
DP DP
SWC
VLAN2 VLAN3
LAN A LAN B
Limitations of a Single Spanning Tree - Limitations of a Single Spanning Tree -

Traffic Cannot Be Load Balanced Secondary Optimal Layer 2 Path
Create a Layer 3 Create a Layer 3 Create a Layer 3 Create a Layer 3
interface of interface of interface of interface of
VLAN 2 VLAN 3 VLAN 2 VLAN 3
DP RP DP RP
SWA SWB SWA SWB
DP DP
DP DP
Root VLAN2 This path is VLAN2
Root
disconnected and Secondary
VLAN3 traffic cannot be load VLAN3 optimal path of
balanced VLAN 3
RP AP RP AP
Discarding Discarding
DP DP DP DP
SWC SWC
VLAN2 VLAN3 VLAN2 VLAN3
LAN A LAN B LAN A LAN B
10
MSTIs Overcome the Limitations of a
MSTP Configuration Requirements
Single Spanning Tree
DP RP
 MSTP can be used to load balance of Internet access traffic of PCs from
SWA SWB
RP DP different VLANs. VLANs 1 to 10 map MSTI 1, and VLANs 11 to 20 map
DP DP DP
DP
MSTI 2.
Root switch of Root switch of
MSTI 1 MSTI 2 The configuration
stp enable is similar to
AP RP stp mode mstp
RP that of SWA
AP stp region-configuration
MSTI 2 -> VLAN 3 and VLAN region-name RG1
MSTI 1 -> VLAN 2 4 instance 1 vlan 1 to 10
instance 2 vlan 11 to 20 SWA GE0/0/2 GE0/0/2
DP DP SWB
SWC active region-configuration
GE0/0/1 GE0/0/1
VLAN 2 VLAN 3
VLAN 4 GE0/0/1 GE0/0/1
SWC GE0/0/2
SWD
LAN A LAN B GE0/0/2
G0/0/3 G0/0/3
The configuration The configuration
 An MST region may contain multiple spanning trees, each of which is an MSTI. MSTI are independent is similar to is similar to
MSTP that of SWA
of each other and the calculation process of each MSTI is the same as the RSTP calculation process. that of SWA
PC1 PC2
MSTP Configuration Procedure MSTP Configuration Verification (1/2)

 Check the port status on SWA.
stp instance 2 root primary [SWA]display stp brief
stp instance 1 root primary
stp instance 1 root secondary MSTID Port Role STP State Protection
stp instance 2 root secondary
0 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 DESI FORWARDING NONE
SWA SWB
GE0/0/2 GE0/0/2 2 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 DESI FORWARDING NONE
2 GigabitEthernet0/0/2 ROOT FORWARDING NONE
interface GE0/0/1 GE0/0/1
interface
GigabitEthernet0/0/2
stp instance 2 cost 200000
stp instance 1 cost 200000
GE0/0/1
GE0/0/1  Check the port status on SWB.
SWC SWD
GE0/0/2 GE0/0/2 [SWB]display stp brief
G0/0/3
MSTID Port Role STP State Protection
G0/0/3
interface interface 0 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 DESI FORWARDING NONE
GigabitEthernet0/0/3 GigabitEthernet0/0/3 0 GigabitEthernet0/0/2 ROOT FORWARDING NONE
stp edged-port enable stp edged-port enable 1 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 DESI FORWARDING NONE
PC1 PC2 2 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 DESI FORWARDING NONE
11
MSTP Configuration Verification (2/2) Quiz
 Check the port status on SWC. 1. Which port roles does RSTP define?
[SWC]display stp brief
MSTID Port Role STP State Protection 2. Which of the following statements about MSTP is false?
0 GigabitEthernet0/0/3 DESI FORWARDING NONE A. One MST region can have only one MSTI.
1
1
DESI
DESI
FORWARDING
FORWARDING
NONE
NONE
B. Each MSTI uses the RSTP algorithm independently.
2 GigabitEthernet0/0/2 ALTE DISCARDING NONE C. MSTP is compatible with STP.
 Check the port status on SWD. D. An MSTI can correspond to one or more VLANs.
<SWD>display stp brief
MSTID Port Role STP State Protection
0 GigabitEthernet0/0/1 ALTE DISCARDING NONE
1 GigabitEthernet0/0/2 ALTE DISCARDING NONE
Thank You
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STP RSTP MSTP

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Foreword

Copyright © 2017 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Problem 3: The Switch Has No Blocked Problem 4: The STP-enabled Switches

SWA Root Root Port Blocked Port

SWD SWE SWF SWG

STP Limitation - Port States Contents

Disabled 2. Improvements in RSTP

Root Port STP Port State RSTP Port State Action

Solution 1 to Problem 1: P/A mechanism Solution 1 to Problem 1: P/A mechanism

Solution to Problem 3: Processing of

Processing of Topology Changes (1/4) Processing of Topology Changes (2/4)

E1 E2 E1 E2 After the switch receives BPDUs with

PCA PCB PCA PCB

Edge port New root port TC Edge port

BPDU Protection (1/2) BPDU Protection (2/2)

Edge port Enable BPDU protection

it becomes the non-edge port and the

TC Protection (1/2) TC Protection (2/2)

Edge port ③ The switch frequently

① The hacker connects

G0/0/1 G0/0/1 G0/0/2

G0/0/1 G0/0/2 G0/0/2

PC1 G0/0/4 G0/0/3 G0/0/4

SWB SWC SWB SWC

RSTP Configuration Verification (1/2) RSTP Configuration Verification (2/2)

<SWA>display stp brief [SWB]display stp brief

Limitations of a Single Spanning Tree - Limitations of a Single Spanning Tree -

LAN A LAN B LAN A LAN B

MSTP Configuration Procedure MSTP Configuration Verification (1/2)

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