Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) helps in preventing multiple loops being created between the components of a network. It blocks alternative paths between network components (stations) and enables a single path, thus reducing the chance of getting stuck in an infinite loop. When the main path is disabled, STP reactivates the redundant paths and traffic flow continues. This helps in avoiding collisions or DDOS attacks in larger networks.
OpManager provides the STP port details of the switches that are discovered in it. You can view this from the device snapshot page of that particular switch. Click on the green button on the top left of the device snapshot page and select STP Port details. You will find all the necessary information regarding the same in a tabular column, with port number, priority, status, etc.
Port number: The port in which this entry has the STP management information.
Priority: The priority field value in the first octet of the Port ID.
Port state: Tells if the port state is enabled or disabled.
Status: The port's current status as defined by the application of STP. This controls the port actions on reception of a frame. For example, if a malfunctioning port is detected, the port status will be changed to 'broken(6). Disabled ports will have the status marked as 'disabled(1)'. Other available status are blocking(2), listening(3), learning(4) and forwarding(5).
Cost: 'Cost' in an STP port is the speed at which the port operates. Slower the interface, higher the cost value.
Path cost: Path cost is the shortest path to the designated root bridge. This metric is based on the speed of the bridge port interface. The default value of this parameter is inversely proportional to the speed of the attached LAN.
Designated root: The unique bridge identifier that is recorded as the root in the configuration BPDUs, transmitted by the designated bridge for the segment to which the port is attached. Designated port is the one with the lowest path cost in a particular LAN.
Designated bridge: The bridge identifier that is considered to be the designated port of this port's segment.
Root cost: The path cost of the designated port of the segment that is connected to this port. This value is compared to the root path cost field in received bridge PDUs.
Bridge port: The address of the bridge port
Forward transactions: Number of forward transactions initiated by the particular port. i.e, the number of times this port has transitioned from 'Learning' state to 'Forwarding' state.
Thank you for your feedback!
