Tag Archives: STP

Automating VLAN Configuration on Dell FTOS Switches via GVRP

GARP VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP) is a standards-based protocol defined in the IEEE 802.1Q specification that provides for automatic VLAN configuration on switches. The Generic Attribute Registration Protocol (GARP) is used by switches supporting GVRP to register/de-register attribute values such … Continue reading

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Distributed Core Network Architecture

There is no doubt you have probably heard by now the importance of supporting ‘east-west’ traffic flow in large data center networks. So why is this and what does it mean? And when Gartner claims that 80 percent of data … Continue reading

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Dell Force10 – Layer 2 Multipathing via Virtual Link Trunking (VLT)

In this blog I use one Dell Force10 S50N [FTOS 8.4.2.7] and three Dell Force10 S4810 switches [FTOS 8.3.12.1] to demonstrate Dell Force10’s layer 2 mulipathing technology called Virtual Link Trunking (VLT). With VLT, you can create a LAG for … Continue reading

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Networking: Spanning Tree Protocol Basics [Video]

This video covers some of the basics of how Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) works in a network. To learn more about Spanning Tree Protocol see some of my prior blogs on STP.

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Configuring PVST+ on Cisco Switches

Per VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVST+) is a flavor of Spanning Tree Protocol (see prior blog, Default STP Behavior on Cisco Switches) which maintains a spanning tree instance for each VLAN in the network. This means certain VLAN trunks (using … Continue reading

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Default STP Behavior on Cisco Switches

In a prior blog, Functionality of Layer 2 Switches/Bridges, I discussed the core functionality of layer 2 switches. In this blog, I hit upon the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) used on layer 2 switches to prevent loops. As mentioned before, … Continue reading

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Functionality of Layer 2 Switches/Bridges

Layer 2 switches and bridges switch frames on a network while layer 3 routers route packets between networks. I once heard a network engineer being asked if a network can be made faster if the network is optimized to use … Continue reading

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