DELL N3000 User Manual

Configuring the Spanning Tree Protocol

This chapter describes how to configure the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) 

settings on the switch.
The topics covered in this chapter include:

• STP Overview
• RSTP-PV
• Default STP Values
• Configuring Spanning Tree (Web)
• Configuring Spanning Tree (CLI)
• STP Configuration Examples

STP is a layer 2 protocol that provides a tree topology for switches on a 

bridged LAN. STP allows a network to have redundant paths without the risk 

of network loops. STP uses the spanning tree algorithm to provide a single 

path between end stations on a network. 
Dell Networking series switches support Classic STP, Multiple STP, and Rapid 

STP.

Classic STP provides a single path between end stations, avoiding and 

eliminating loops. 
Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) supports multiple instances of 

Spanning Tree to efficiently channel VLAN traffic over different interfaces. 

Each instance of the Spanning Tree behaves in the manner specified in IEEE 

802.1w, Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP), with slight modifications in the 

working but not the end effect (chief among the effects, is the rapid