3com 8807 User Guide

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HAPTER
 19: F
AST
 T
RANSITION
Figure 34   Designated port fast transition mechanism of MSTP
There is a certain limit on fast transition cooperation of RSTP and MSTP. For 
example, the upstream switch runs RSTP and the downstream switch runs MSTP, 
and the downstream MSTP does not support the compatible RSTP mode. As the 
root port of the downstream MSTP-enabled switch cannot receive the agreement 
packet from the upstream switch, the downstream switch does not send the 
agreement packet to the upstream switch. As a result, the designated port of the 
upstream switch cannot implement fast transition. Instead, the state becomes 
forwarding state after double forward delay.
In practice, since private protocols related to STP are configured on the switch of 
another vendor and the designated port state transition mechanism is similar to 
that of RSTP, the designated ports cannot implement fast state transition when 
these switches serving as upstream switches interconnect with the Switch 8800 
Family series routing switch that runs MSTP.
To avoid such problem, Switch 8800 Family series routing switches provide fast 
transition. When the Switch 8800 Family series routing switch interconnects with 
the switches from another vendor, you can enable fast transition on the port of 
the S5800 switch that serves as the downstream switch. If this port is a root port, 
after receiving the proposal packet from the designated port of the upstream 
switch, the port sends the agreement packet to the upstream switch initiatively 
rather than sends the agreement packet after receiving the agreement packet. As 
a result, the upstream switch can perform fast state transition on the designated 
port.
Configuring Fast 
transition
Configuration 
Preparation
The Switch 8800 Family series routing switch serves as the downstream switch and 
the switch from another vendor serves as the upstream switch. They have been 
connected correctly, as shown in Figure 35.
A private protocol related to STP is enabled on the upstream switch. The 
designated port state transition mechanism is similar to that of RSTP. Port 1 is a 
designated port.
MSTP is enabled on the downstream Switch 8800 Family switch. Port 2 is a 
designated port.
Upstream switch
Downstream switch
Send the proposal message to 
request for fast transition
Send the agreement message
Send the agreement message
Send the agreement message
The designated 
port enters the 
forwarding state
Root port
Designated port
The root port congests other 
non-edge ports. 
The root port enters the 
forwarding state, and then
Forwards the agreement 
message to the upstream switch
Upstream switch
Downstream switch
Send the proposal message to 
request for fast transition
Send the agreement message
Send the agreement message
Send the agreement message
The designated 
port enters the 
forwarding state
Root port
Designated port
The root port congests other 
non-edge ports. 
The root port enters the 
forwarding state, and then
Forwards the agreement 
message to the upstream switch