Dell EMC SmartFabric OS10 User Guide Release 10.5.0

Introduction to STP

The spanning-tree protocol is a Layer 2 network protocol that prevents loops in a network topology. Spanning-tree is useful when more than one network path exists and devices in the network are either competing for or sharing these paths.

By eliminating loops, the protocol improves scalability in a large network and allows you to implement redundant paths, which can be activated when the active paths fail.

Layer 2 loops occur in a network due to poor network design and without enabling xSTP protocols, can cause high switch CPU utilization and memory consumption.