Spanning Tree and Paired Ports

To follow this guide, your system must be running OneView v4.3.2-134 or newer software.

Preface

Spanning tree protocol (STP) prevents loops and allows path redundancy for a network. This article will show how to enable STP and the additional features that are available when using spanning tree.
 

Technical notes

• The spanning tree mode that Optigo Connect uses is the rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP).
  
  
• The Edge Switch priority is 32768 and the Aggregation Switch priority is 24576.
  
  
• The behavior in Spectra systems for STP has changed between 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 - the ONS-S8 now has STP enabled with priority 24576, like in Hybrid mode.

 

Steps to enable STP

1. Navigate to System > Config and scroll to the bottom to view Advanced Settings, then click on STP.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Reboot your ONS-NC600 to apply the settings to Edge Switches.

 

Paired ports

For an example of how this feature is used, please click here. The paired ports setting is available only when STP is enabled, and STP cannot be disabled if there are any paired ports on the system.

When enabled, paired ports will sync VLANs and MAC address authorization rules between the two ports automatically.

Enable paired ports

1. Navigate to the Ports page and click 'More' on the desired port.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click the 'Device / Security' tab, where you can enable or disable the setting.
   
   

 

Paired ports details

The port pairs are chosen according to these rules:

1. An odd port is always paired with the next even port.
2. An even port is always paired with the previous odd port.

For example, port 1 is always paired with port 2, port 3 is always paired with port 4, port 11 is always paired with port 12, etc.

In addition, port pairing can be enabled from either port's detailed view.

 

Other functionality enabled with STP

Rings in Hybrid mode

STP allows rings to be used in Hybrid mode to protect from a failure in the ring. See our Hybrid connection article for more information.

 

STP state change notifications

When STP state notifications and data collection are both enabled, you can receive notifications for changes to the spanning tree state. STP notifications can also be sent via email. 

This allows you to detect if any links have failed, even if traffic is still working normally. There is also additional information shown on the ports page when collection is enabled (see below).