Configuring spanning tree timers, Configuration restrictions and guidelines – H3C Technologies H3C S5560 Series Switches User Manual

Page 117

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In PVST mode, the configured network diameter takes effect only on the root bridges of the specified

VLANs.
To configure the network diameter of a switched network:

Step Command

Remarks

1.

Enter system view.

system-view

N/A

2.

Configure the network

diameter of the switched
network.

In STP/RSTP/MSTP mode:

stp bridge-diameter diameter

In PVST mode:

stp vlan vlan-id-list bridge-diameter

diameter

The default setting is 7.

Configuring spanning tree timers

The following timers are used for spanning tree calculation:

Forward delay—Delay time for port state transition. To prevent temporary loops on a network, the
spanning tree feature sets an intermediate port state (the learning state) before it transits from the

discarding state to the forwarding state. The feature also requires that the port transit its state after
a forward delay timer to make sure the state transition of the local port stays synchronized with the

peer.

Hello time—Interval at which the device sends configuration BPDUs to detect link failures. If the
device receives no configuration BPDUs within the timeout period, it recalculates the spanning tree.

The formula for calculating the timeout period is timeout period = timeout factor × 3 × hello time.

Max age—In the CIST of an MSTP network, the device uses the max age timer to determine if a
configuration BPDU received by a port has expired. If it has, a new spanning tree calculation
process starts. The max age timer does not take effect on other MSTIs except the CIST.

To ensure a fast topology convergence, make sure the timer settings meet the following formulas:

2 × (forward delay – 1 second) ≥ max age

Max age ≥ 2 × (hello time + 1 second)

H3C recommends not manually setting the spanning tree timers. H3C recommends that you specify the

network diameter and letting spanning tree protocols automatically calculate the timers based on the

network diameter. If the network diameter uses the default value, the timers also use their default values.
Configure the timers only on the root bridge. The timer settings on the root bridge apply to all devices on

the entire switched network.

Configuration restrictions and guidelines

The length of the forward delay timer is related to the network diameter of the switched network. The

larger the network diameter is, the longer the forward delay time should be. If the forward delay

timer is too short, temporary redundant paths might occur. If the forward delay timer is too long,

network convergence might take a long time. H3C recommends that you use the automatically
calculated value.

An appropriate hello time setting enables the device to promptly detect link failures on the network
without using excessive network resources. If the hello time is too long, the device mistakes packet

loss for a link failure and triggers a new spanning tree calculation process. If the hello time is too

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