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Day: January 19, 2012

CCIE: 802.1s (MST)

CCIE: 802.1s (MST)

Overview: MSTP, which uses RSTP for rapid convergence, enables VLANs to be grouped into a spanning-tree instance, with each instance having a spanning-tree topology independent of other spanning-tree instances. This architecture provides multiple forwarding paths for data traffic, enables load balancing, and reduces the number of spanning-tree instances required to support a large number of VLANs. All the details can be found here. My personal field experience: It’s funny, I always hear how great MST is (and it does have…

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CCIE: UDLD

CCIE: UDLD

UDLD is a Layer 2 protocol that enables devices connected through fiber-optic or twisted-pair Ethernet cables to monitor the physical configuration of the cables and detect when a unidirectional link exists. All connected devices must support UDLD for the protocol to successfully identify and disable unidirectional links. When UDLD detects a unidirectional link, it disables the affected port and alerts you. Unidirectional links can cause a variety of problems, including spanning-tree topology loops. UDLD uses it’s own keepalives and not…

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CCIE: Root Guard, BPDU Guard, BPDU Filter, and Loop Guard

CCIE: Root Guard, BPDU Guard, BPDU Filter, and Loop Guard

The BPDU guard feature can be globally enabled on the switch or can be enabled per port, but the feature operates with some differences. At the global level, you enable BPDU guard on Port Fast-enabled ports by using the spanning-tree portfast bpduguard default global configuration command. Spanning tree shuts down ports that are in a Port Fast-operational state if any BPDU is received on them. In a valid configuration, Port Fast-enabled ports do not receive BPDUs. Receiving a BPDU on a Port…

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