STP functionality

[pcantoni]

Hi everybody,

only a doubt about STP (802.1d).

Suppose to have a simple loop between three switches (in purely daisy chain).

What if one of them (say SWA) doesn't support STP?

Can I use STP nevertheless ?

The other two switch are able to manage the port block/forwarding algorithm, so mantaining connectivity without looping ?

Thank you in advance

[Kevin Dorrell · Accepted solution]

It depends on whether the third-party switch passes the BPDUs through transparently. If it does so, the STP will block a port to prevent the loop. It would be as if you had a crossed-cable instead of the third-party switch.

If it doesn't, then the network will meltdown.

Kevin Dorrell

Luxembourg