Convergence after a link failure – Brocade BigIron RX Series Configuration Guide User Manual

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378

BigIron RX Series Configuration Guide

53-1002484-04

Convergence in a simple topology

13

The Port2/Switch 2 bridge also sends an RST BPDU with an agreed flag Port2/Switch 1 that Port2
is the new Root port. Both ports go into forwarding states.

Now, Port3/Switch 3 is currently in a discarding state and is negotiating a port role. It received RST
BPDUs from Port3/Switch 2. The RSTP algorithm determines that the RST BPDUs Port3/Switch 3
received are superior to those it can transmit; however, they are not superior to those that are
currently being received by the current Root port (Port4). Therefore, Port3 retains the role of
Alternate port.

Ports 3/Switch 1 and Port5/Switch 1 are physically connected. Port5/Switch 1 received RST
BPDUs that are superior to those received on Port3/Switch 1; therefore, Port5/Switch 1 is given
the Backup port role while Port3 is given the Designated port role. Port3/Switch 1, does not go
directly into a forwarding state. It waits until the forward delay time expires twice on that port before
it can proceed to the forwarding state.

Once convergence is achieved, the active Layer 2 forwarding path converges as shown in

Figure 55

.

FIGURE 55

Active Layer 2 path

Convergence after a link failure

What happens if a link in the RSTP topology fails?

For example, Port2/Switch, which is the port that connects Switch 2 to the root bridge (Switch 1),
fails. Both Switch 2 and Switch 1 notice the topology change (

Figure 56

).

Switch 2

Port2
Root port

Port2

Designated

port

Port3
Designated
port

Switch 1

Port5
Backup port

Bridge priority = 1500

Bridge priority = 1000

Port4
Designated port

Port4
Root port

Port3
Designated
port

Port3
Alternate
port

Bridge priority = 2000

Switch 3

Indicates the active Layer 2 path

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