Understanding LBDT - S2720, S5700, and S6700

V200R019C00 Configuration Guide - Ethernet

Switching
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LBDT periodically sends detection packets on an interface (see Detection Packet) to check
whether the packets return to the local device (through the same interface or another
interface), and determines whether a loop occurs on the interface, on the downstream
network or device, or between two device interfaces.

If detection packets are received by the same interface, a loopback occurs on the
interface or a loop occurs on the downstream network or device connected to the
interface.

If detection packets are received by another interface on the same device, a loop
occurs on the device or network connected to the interface.

Once a loop is detected, a Huawei switch sends a trap to the NMS and records a log. It then
takes a preconfigured action on the interface (see Action Taken After a Loop Is Detected) to
minimize the impact of the loop on the device and entire network.

When the device does not receive detection packets from the interface within the recovery
time, the device considers that the loop is eliminated and restores the interface (see
Automatic Recovery of an Interface).

Detection Packet

LBDT periodically sends detection packets on an interface to check whether the packets
return to the local device to determine whether loops occur on the interface, on the
downstream network or device, or between two device interfaces. The following conditions
must be met:

Detection packets sent from an interface are sent back to the local device when a loop
occurs on an interface, or network connected to the interface.
The system identifies detection packets sent from the local device, and detection
packets that the interface sends.
Detection packets sent from a device carry the device's MAC address and outbound
interface number. The device can identify the packets sent by itself as well as the source
interface. The packets also carry the broadcast or multicast destination MAC address to
ensure that the packets can be sent back to the local device when a loop occurs on the
interface or network connected to the interface. Figure 19-1 shows the format of LBDT
packets.

Figure 19-1 Format of LBDT packets

Table 19-1 describes the fields.

Table 19-1 Description of each field
DMAC The destination MAC address of a tagged packet is all Fs; the
destination MAC address of an untagged packet is a BPDU
MAC address, broadcast MAC address (all Fs), or multicast
MAC address.

The broadcast destination MAC address, multicast destination

MAC address, or BPDU MAC address ensures that the detection
packet can be sent back to the local device when a loop occurs
on the interface or network connected to the interface.
SMAC Source MAC address. The value is the system MAC address of
the device, which identifies packets sent from the local device.
802.1Q Tag Tag Protocol Identifier (TPID). The value of the TPID is 0x8100,
representing the 802.1Q tagged frame.
Protocol- Detection packet type, including the protocol number and
Type subprotocol number.

The protocol number and subprotocol number are 0x9998 and

0x0001 respectively, indicating LBDT packets.
PortInfo Information about the interface that sends detection packets,
which is used by the device to determine whether packets are
sent from the interface.
Flag Untagged detection packet flag:

0x0003: indicates untagged packets.

0x0004: indicates tagged packets.
LBDT sends both tagged and untagged detection packets, so it can detect loops based on
interfaces and VLANs.

Action Taken After a Loop Is Detected

When the system detects a loop on an interface, it can take a preconfigured action on the
interface. Table 19-2 describes these preconfigured actions.

Table 19-2 Actions taken after a loop is detected

Action Description Usage Scenario
Trap The device only sends a trap to Select this action when only traps
the NMS and records a log. need to be reported without
affecting traffic forwarding on the
interface.

This action cannot suppress

Block The device sends a trap to the
NMS, blocks the interface, and
allows only BPDUs to pass
through.
broadcast storms.
Select this action when the
interface needs to be disabled
from forwarding data packets
and needs to forward BPDUs
such as Link Layer Discovery
Protocol Data Units (LLDPDUs).

This action can suppress

Shutdown The device sends a trap to the
NMS and shuts down the
interface.
broadcast storms.
Select this action to prevent
broadcast storms when the
interface does not participate in
any calculation or forwarding.

This action can suppress

broadcast storms.
Action Description Usage Scenario
No The device sends a trap to the Select this action when the
learning NMS and disables the interface interface needs to process data
from learning new MAC packets and send them to the
addresses. correct link.

This action cannot suppress

Quitvlan The device sends a trap to the
NMS and removes the interface
from the VLAN where the loop
occurs.
broadcast storms.
Select this action when loops in a
VLAN need to be eliminated
without affecting traffic
forwarding in other VLANs.

This action can suppress

broadcast storms.

LBDT can only detect loops on a single node, but cannot eliminate loops on the entire
network. After a loop is detected, you are advised to eliminate the loop immediately.

Automatic Recovery of an Interface

The automatic recovery mechanism of LBDT allows the looped interface to be restored
immediately after a loop is eliminated. After the configured recovery time expires, the
system attempts to restore the looped interface. If the device does not receive detection
packets from the looped interface within the next recovery time, it considers that the loop is
eliminated on the interface and restores the interface.

The interface that is disabled by LBDT cannot be restored after the recovery time. The
interface that is manually shut down or enters the Error-Down state due to other
protocols will be automatically restored after the recovery time. However, the interface
that is disabled only by LBDT cannot be restored after the recovery time.

After the LBDT action of an interface is changed, the interface is restored. Then the
changed LBDT action is taken when a loop is detected.

When VLAN-based LBDT is configured on an interface:

If detection of this VLAN is canceled, the interface is restored automatically.

If GVRP is not enabled on the interface and the interface is removed from the
VLAN manually, the interface is restored automatically.

If GVRP is enabled on the interface, the interface is manually removed from the
VLAN or dynamically removed from the VLAN through GVRP, and the action to be
taken is not shutdown, the interface can be restored automatically.

If GVRP is enabled on the interface, the interface is manually removed from the
VLAN or dynamically removed from the VLAN through GVRP, and the action to be
taken is shutdown, in the alarm periodically reported by the device, the
information about the VLAN where loops are detected is empty. For LBDT, You
must run the shutdown and undo shutdown commands to manually restore the
interface or run the restart command to enable the interface again. In addition to
the preceding methods, the interface that is manually shut down or enters the
Error-Down state due to other protocols will be automatically restored after the
recovery time. However, the interface that is disabled only by LBDT cannot be
restored after the recovery time.