Spanning tree between a Nexus 5020 and a Catalyst 6509

[jacinto1m]

Hi,

Our customer is willing to have a Cisco Nexus 5020 to provide server connectivity and this Nexus would go connected to their core switch 6509. They are concern about Spanning tree compatibility between the Nexus and the 6509. Are they fully compatible for Spanning tree?

Any help is much appreciated.

[Ivan Shirshin · Accepted solution]

Hi Juan,

Nexus fully supports spanning tree as well as 6509:

Nexus 5020 Layer 2 Features

• Layer 2 switch ports and VLAN trunks

• IEEE 802.1Q VLAN encapsulation

• Support for up to 507 VLANs per switch

• Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+) (IEEE 802.1w compatible)

• Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) (IEEE 802.1s): 64 instances

• Spanning Tree PortFast and PortFast Guard

• Spanning Tree UplinkFast and BackboneFast

• Spanning Tree Root Guard

• Spanning Tree Bridge Assurance

• NIC teaming

• Cisco EtherChannel technology (up to 16 ports per EtherChannel)

• Cisco vPC technology

• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP): IEEE 802.3ad

• Advanced PortChannel hashing based on Layer 2, 3, and 4 information

• Jumbo frames on all ports (up to 9216 bytes)

• Pause frames (IEEE 802.3x)

• Storm control (unicast, multicast, and broadcast)

• Private VLANs

• Private VLAN over trunks (isolated and promiscuous)

• Private VLANs over vPC and EtherChannels

• VTP Client and Server (Versions 1 and 2)

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps9441/ps9670/data_sheet_c78-461802.html

Kind Regards,
Ivan

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[jacinto1m]

Hi Ivan,

Thanks for your answer!

I guess then that there is fully compatibility of spanning tree on the 6509 and the Nexus 5020?

[Amit Singh · Accepted solution]

Hi Juan,

There should not be any issues with the STP between 6509 and Nexus5020. These are fully compatible with each other. I have my customers running Nexus5K's with Cat6500 at the backbone.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

-amit singh