This article explains how Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is implemented on Dell Networking PowerConnect switches thru Web Interface (GUI).
Topics Covered
Default Spanning Tree values
Enabling RSTP
Setting root bridge priority
Enabling Portfast
Default Values for Spanning Tree on PowerConnect
enabled globally on all ports
RSTP mode is enabled (Classic STP and MSTP are disabled)
Switch priority is set to -- 32768
PortFast mode set to -- disabled
Enabling RSTP
The STP Global Settings page contains fields for enabling RSTP on the switch.
To display the STP Global Settings page, click Switching / Spanning Tree / Global Settings in the navigation panel.
Choose the drop down to enable/disable spanning tree globally.
Choose the drop down to select the specific mode of spanning-tree
Setting root bridge priority
To display the STP Bridge Settings page, click Switching / Spanning Tree / Global Settings in the navigation panel.
Type the desired priority into the box for Bridge Settings Priority
The switch with the lowest priority value is elected as the root switch.
Do not make any other changes to the timing settings without a high degree of knowledge. This can cause complications when communicating with other switches in the environment.
Enabling Portfast
It is recommended to configure any edge ports, ports that go to end devices such as printers, phones, servers, workstations, to be set up as Portfast. A port in Portfast will move directly to forwarding state when the link comes up without waiting for the forward-time delay.
To display the STP Port Settings page, click Switching / Spanning Tree / STP Port Settings in the navigation panel.
Choose the desired unit and physical port number.
Verify Spanning Tree is enabled for that specific port
Click in the box to place a check mark for Portfast. This enables portfast for the port selected.
Do not configure portfast on interfaces that attach to another switch or network device.