Minimizing spanning-tree protocol event processing and flooding in distribution networks

1. A method, comprising:

configuring one or more ports of an access layer network device connected to a distribution layer network device to suppress transmission of one or more network topology change information messages to the distribution layer network device of a data network;

detecting a state change to a forwarding state on the one or more ports of the access layer network device; and

in response to the detecting of the state change, transmitting a predetermined data packet on the one or more ports of the access layer network device whose state has changed to the forwarding state wherein the predetermined data packet includes one or more of a MAC address table move update (MMU) packet or a dummy multicast packet, or combinations thereof wherein

in response to the configuring, no network topology change information messages are transmitted by the access layer network device from the one or more ports changed to the forwarding state, despite the detected state change of the one or more ports of the access layer network device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the MMU packet includes one or more MAC addresses associated with a respective one or more VLANs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the distribution layer network device includes a distribution layer switch.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the access layer network device includes an edge switch.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the detected state change includes a spanning-tree state change to the forwarding state, and further, wherein the step of configuring the one or more ports connected to an access layer network device includes transmitting a spanning-tree protocol bridge protocol data unit on a port carrying network topology change information.

6. A method, comprising:

configuring one or more ports of an access layer network device connected to a distribution layer network device to suppress transmission of one or more network topology change information messages to the distribution layer network device of a data network;

detecting a spanning-tree state change to a forwarding state on the one or more ports of the access layer network device; and

in response to the detecting of the state change, transmitting one or more of a MAC address table move update (MMU) packet or a dummy multicast packet, or combinations thereof, on the one or more ports of the access layer network device whose state has changed to the forwarding state wherein

in response to the configuring, no network topology change information messages are transmitted by the access layer network device from the one or more ports changed to the forwarding state, despite the detected state change of the one or more ports of the access layer network device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the MMU packet includes one or more MAC addresses associated with a respective one or more VLANs.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the distribution layer network device includes a distribution layer switch.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the access layer network device includes an edge switch.

10. An apparatus, comprising: a network interface;

one or more processors coupled to the network interface; and

a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to configure one or more ports of an access layer network device connected to a distribution layer network device to suppress transmission of one or more network topology change information messages to the distribution layer network device of a data network, detect a state change to a forwarding state on the one or more ports of the access layer network device, and transmit a predetermined data packet on the one or more ports of the access layer network device whose state has changed to the forwarding state in response to the detection of the state change, wherein the predetermined data packet includes one or more of a MAC address table move update (MMU) packet or a dummy multicast packet, or combinations thereof wherein

in response to the configuring, no network topology change information messages are transmitted by the access layer network device from the one or more ports changed to the forwarding state, despite the detected state change of the one or more ports of the access layer network device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the predetermined data packet includes one or more of a MAC address table move update (MMU) packet or a dummy multicast packet, or combinations thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the MMU packet includes one or more MAC addresses associated with a respective one or more VLANs.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the distribution layer network device includes a distribution layer switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the access layer network device includes an edge switch.

15. One or more storage devices having non-transitory processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

configuring one or more ports of an access layer network device connected to a distribution layer network device to suppress transmission of one or more network topology change information messages to the distribution layer network device of a data network;

detecting a state change to a forwarding state on the one or more ports of the access layer network device; and

in response to the detecting of the state change, transmitting a predetermined data packet on the one or more ports of the access layer network device whose state has changed to the forwarding state wherein the predetermined data packet includes one or more of a MAC address table move update (MMU) packet or a dummy multicast packet, or combinations thereof wherein

in response to the configuring, no network topology change information messages are transmitted by the access layer network device from the one or more ports changed to the forwarding state, despite the detected state change of the one or more ports of the access layer network device.

16. The one or more storage devices of claim 15 wherein the predetermined data packet includes one or more of a MAC address table move update (MMU) packet or a dummy multicast packet, or combinations thereof.

17. The one or more storage devices of claim 15 wherein the MMU packet includes one or more MAC addresses associated with a respective one or more VLANs.

18. The one or more storage devices of claim 15 wherein the distribution layer network device includes a distribution layer switch.

19. The one or more storage devices of claim 15 wherein the access layer network device includes an edge switch.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for configuring one or more ports of an access layer network device connected to a distribution layer network device to suppress transmission of one or more network topology change information messages to the distribution layer network device of a data network;

means for detecting a state change to a forwarding state on the one or more ports of the access layer network device; and

means for transmitting a predetermined data packet on the one or more ports of the access layer network device whose state has changed to the forwarding state in response to the detecting of the state change, wherein the predetermined data packet includes one or more of a MAC address table move update (MMU) packet or a dummy multicast packet, or combinations thereof wherein

in response to the configuring, no network topology change information messages are transmitted by the access layer network device from the one or more ports changed to the forwarding state, despite the detected state change of the one or more ports of the access layer network device.