Spanning Tree Overview

Sections:

• Spanning Tree Drawbacks
• Reducing Spanning Tree Footprint

Overview:

• Spanning Tree is a network protocol used in Ethernet networks to create a loop-free topology for data frames to travel across
• In a network with multiple switches, there are often multiple paths that data could take between two devices. Without any mechanism to control these paths, the network could experience broadcast storms, loops, or network congestion. Spanning Tree ensures that there is only one active path between any two devices even if there are multiple physical connections
• Switches utilize and exchange BPDUs or Bridge protocol data units between neighboring switches to maintain and manage the loop-free network topology. BPDUs are essential for the operation of Spanning Tree, helping switches to exchange topology information, select the Root Bridge, and calculate the best paths for data to travel on the network

Spanning Tree Drawbacks

Overview:

• The issue with Spanning Tree is that it provides inefficient bandwidth utilization due to blocking redundant links and the potential for sub-optimal path selection
• Although Spanning Tree is necessary to maintain a loop-free layer 2 network, there are various solutions that can minimize the footprint of STP such as EtherChannel implementation, Stackwise and VSS technologies, and implementing layer 3 routing at the access layer of the network

Reducing Spanning Tree Footprint

EtherChannels

Stackwise

VSS

Layer 3 at the Access Layer