NETGEAR FSM726 - ProSafe Managed Switch, Setup Manual

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700 Series Software Manual v2.1
Web-Based Management Interface 5-35
Advanced> Spanning Tree
This switch is compliant with IEEE802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). STP ensures that only
one path at a time is active between any two network nodes. There maybe more than one physical
path between any two nodes, forming a loop, either created for redundancy or by accident. STP
ensures only one physical path is active and the others are blocked. If a loop is created for
redundancy, STP will monitor the two paths and activate the stand-by path if the primary path
fails. If a loop was created inadvertently, STP will disable one of the two paths. A loop in a
network can disable your network by causing a “Broadcast storm”, the result of a broadcast
message traveling through the loop again and again.
There are two sub-page of Spanning Tree configuration:
• Bridge Settings
• Port Settings
Advanced> Spanning Tree >Bridge Settings
Figure 5-36: Spanning Tree: Bridge Settings
When Spanning tree is used in conjunction with a set of aggregated ports, also known as a port
trunking, Spanning Tree will treat the trunk as a single virtual port.