SPANNING TREE PROTOCOL
In Layer 2 domain, redundancy is an important case. To provide redundant links, multiple connections are done between switches. But this redundancy mechanism can cause an undesirable situation that is called “L2 Loop”. To provide L2 redundancy and to avoid L2 loops, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) has been developed. In this lesson we will focus STP Overview. In another lesson we will focus STP Configuration. You can also view Spanning Tree Protocol detailslesson.
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) has a mechanims to avoid Layer 2 Loops. With its mechanism, it checked all the available links. It determiens primary and backups of redundant links. According to some algorithms, some of the links pruned and only one available link become active at the same time to a destination. We can say that Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) mechanims basically prunes the unnecessary links at that time. If this link become offline because of a problem, then STP make another link as active. And the communication continue with another available way. At a time, only one link is active with STP.
