When a port is flapping due to physical layer issues, you will typically see these messages reported on a port multiple times repeatedly. If these are client ports, you can minimize the problems caused by flapping ports by enabling portfast (also called fastlink or edgeport) on the port while you troubleshoot the problem. This will not prevent the port from flapping, but it will allow Spanning Tree to put the port directly in a forwarding state when it transitions from a link-down state to link-up.
The number of client workstations on the network is not a factor in determining whether STP should be used. If you have 2 or more managed switches on the network you should use STP to prevent bridging loops. If someone were to accidentally create a loop in the network without STP running on the switches, it would cause a broadcast storm that could crash the entire network.
So is it ok to use RSTP with Fastlink on the client worstation links? or will Fastlink negate the benefit of having RSTP? I'd like to have the loop/storm protection of STP, but its STP that seems to be causing my network connection problems.
You should enable fastlink on client ports and leave it disabled on unused or uplink ports.
Spanning Tree should not be causing the ports to rapidly change between Up/Down states. It will simply compound the problems caused by port flapping due to the amount of time it takes for the port to forward traffic when the port changes back to an Up state. If disabling Spanning Tree (or enabling fastlink) causes the port to stop flapping up/down, you should contact tech support via phone. They may need to look into this further and possibly try to duplicate the problem.
GregG1
2 Intern
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812 Posts
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November 18th, 2004 12:00
GregG1
2 Intern
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812 Posts
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November 18th, 2004 12:00
PretzelDude
39 Posts
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November 18th, 2004 12:00
I'll try to paste a snippet here:
18-Nov-2004 08:48:43 Informational %STP-I-PORTSTATUS: Port 2/e40: STP status Forwarding
18-Nov-2004 08:48:12 Informational %LINK-I-Up: 2/e40
18-Nov-2004 08:48:09 Warning %LINK-W-Down: 2/e40
18-Nov-2004 08:47:56 Informational %LINK-I-Up: 2/e40
PretzelDude
39 Posts
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November 18th, 2004 12:00
GregG1
2 Intern
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812 Posts
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November 18th, 2004 13:00
PretzelDude
39 Posts
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November 30th, 2004 13:00
GregG1
2 Intern
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812 Posts
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November 30th, 2004 13:00
PretzelDude
39 Posts
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November 30th, 2004 15:00
GregG1
2 Intern
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812 Posts
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November 30th, 2004 17:00
You should enable fastlink on client ports and leave it disabled on unused or uplink ports.
Spanning Tree should not be causing the ports to rapidly change between Up/Down states. It will simply compound the problems caused by port flapping due to the amount of time it takes for the port to forward traffic when the port changes back to an Up state. If disabling Spanning Tree (or enabling fastlink) causes the port to stop flapping up/down, you should contact tech support via phone. They may need to look into this further and possibly try to duplicate the problem.
BDCON
5 Posts
0
December 20th, 2004 19:00
We are having similar issues with 2 x 3348 & 1 x 5324
I have tried the Fast Link option, changing to Rapid STP and still have issues.
Any ideas? On the 5324 we are using CAT 6 cables straight from the server to the switch.
see our example:
Log Index Log Time Severity Description
1 2147483602 20-Dec-2004 14:09:53 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g17: STP status Forwarding
2 2147483603 20-Dec-2004 14:09:30 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g13
3 2147483604 20-Dec-2004 14:09:23 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g17
4 2147483605 20-Dec-2004 14:04:21 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g10: STP status Forwarding
5 2147483606 20-Dec-2004 14:03:51 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g10
6 2147483607 20-Dec-2004 14:03:46 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g16
7 2147483608 20-Dec-2004 14:03:43 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g16
8 2147483609 20-Dec-2004 14:03:40 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g16
9 2147483610 20-Dec-2004 14:02:20 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g16: STP status Forwarding
10 2147483611 20-Dec-2004 14:01:50 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g16
11 2147483612 20-Dec-2004 14:01:48 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g16
12 2147483613 20-Dec-2004 14:01:15 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g16: STP status Forwarding
13 2147483614 20-Dec-2004 14:00:45 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g16
14 2147483615 20-Dec-2004 14:00:43 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g10
15 2147483616 20-Dec-2004 13:52:01 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g10: STP status Forwarding
16 2147483617 20-Dec-2004 13:51:31 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g10
17 2147483618 20-Dec-2004 13:51:29 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g10
18 2147483619 20-Dec-2004 13:51:09 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g10: STP status Forwarding
19 2147483620 20-Dec-2004 13:50:39 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g10
20 2147483621 20-Dec-2004 13:50:34 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g10
21 2147483622 20-Dec-2004 13:33:09 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g13: STP status Forwarding
22 2147483623 20-Dec-2004 13:32:39 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g13
23 2147483624 20-Dec-2004 13:32:37 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g13
24 2147483625 20-Dec-2004 13:32:17 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g13: STP status Forwarding
25 2147483626 20-Dec-2004 13:31:47 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g13
26 2147483627 20-Dec-2004 13:31:46 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g13
27 2147483628 20-Dec-2004 13:31:35 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g13: STP status Forwarding
28 2147483629 20-Dec-2004 13:31:05 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g13
29 2147483630 20-Dec-2004 13:30:10 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g13
30 2147483631 20-Dec-2004 13:27:42 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g13: STP status Forwarding
31 2147483632 20-Dec-2004 13:27:12 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g13
32 2147483633 20-Dec-2004 13:27:11 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g13
33 2147483634 20-Dec-2004 13:25:03 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g13: STP status Forwarding
34 2147483635 20-Dec-2004 13:24:33 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g13
35 2147483636 20-Dec-2004 12:50:43 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g11
36 2147483637 20-Dec-2004 12:49:36 Warning %LINK-W-Down: g12
37 2147483638 20-Dec-2004 12:09:41 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g11: STP status Forwarding
38 2147483639 20-Dec-2004 12:09:11 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g11
39 2147483640 20-Dec-2004 12:06:53 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g12: STP status Forwarding
40 2147483641 20-Dec-2004 12:06:23 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g12
41 2147483642 20-Dec-2004 12:03:09 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g10: STP status Forwarding
42 2147483643 20-Dec-2004 12:02:53 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g9: STP status Forwarding
43 2147483644 20-Dec-2004 12:02:39 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g10
44 2147483645 20-Dec-2004 12:02:30 Warning %STP-W-PORTSTATUS: g8: STP status Forwarding
45 2147483646 20-Dec-2004 12:02:23 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g9
46 2147483647 20-Dec-2004 12:02:00 Informational %LINK-I-Up: g8