TECHNICAL ENHANCEMENTS TO STP (IEEE 802.1D) IMPLEMENTATION
An embodiment includes a method of minimizing the delay in convergence time for a complex STP topology following a topology change in the network system in the spanning tree protocol (STP) standard, including: receiving, by a root port of a first bridge, a data message that includes identification of a current root bridge and a priority value of the current root bridge; receiving, by a second port of the first bridge, a second data message from a second bridge; and if a message age timer of the first bridge has less than a limiting message age time value remaining before expiry, then blocking a reply, by the second port of the first bridge, to the second data message from the second bridge.
1 . A method comprising:
placing a port in fast span configuration;
if the port receives any bridge protocol unit (BPDU), placing the port in a non-fast-span configuration; and
upon initialization of the port, if the port is in a fast span configuration, shortening a forward delay of the port, wherein the port is placed in a forwarding state upon expiry of the delay.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the action of placing the port comprises:
setting a fast span flag in the port if the port is placed in the fast span configuration.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the action of shortening the forward delay comprises:
shortening the forward delay to less than 4 seconds.
4 . An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of ports; and
one or more engines configured to:
place a port in fast span configuration;
if the port receives any bridge protocol unit (BPDU), place the port in a non-fast-span configuration; and
upon initialization of the port, if the port is in a fast span configuration, shorten a forward delay of the port, wherein the port is placed in a forwarding state upon expiry of the delay.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more engines are further configured to set a fast span flag in the port if the port is placed in the fast span configuration.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more engines are further configured to shorten the forward delay by shortening the forward delay to less than 4 seconds.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the action of placing the port comprises setting a fast span flag in the port if the port is placed in the fast span configuration; and
the method further comprises, if a BPDU is detected by the port, then in response to the detection, placing the port in a non-fast-span configuration.
8 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more engines are further configured to place the port in a non-fast-span configuration in response to a BPDU being detected by the port, the placing of the port comprising setting a fast span flag in the port.
9 . A machine-readable medium having a program of instructions stored thereon that are executable by the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
placing a port in fast span configuration;
if the port receives any bridge protocol unit (BPDU), placing the port in a non-fast-span configuration; and
upon initialization of the port, if the port is in a fast span configuration, shortening a forward delay of the port, wherein the port is placed in a forwarding state upon expiry of the delay.
10 . An apparatus comprising:
means for placing a port in fast span configuration;
means for, if the port receives any bridge protocol unit (BPDU), placing the port in a non-fast-span configuration; and
means for, upon initialization of the port, if the port is in a fast span configuration, shortening a forward delay of the port, wherein the port is placed in a forwarding state upon expiry of the delay.