Dell Configuration Guide for the S4048–ON System 9.14.2.6

Ring Restoration

The Master node continues sending ring health frames out its primary port even when operating in the Ring-Fault state.

After the ring is restored, the next status check frame is received on the Master node's Secondary port. This causes the Master node to transition back to the Normal state. The Master node then logically blocks non-control frames on the Secondary port, clears its own forwarding table, and sends a control frame to the Transit nodes, instructing them to clear their forwarding tables and re-learn the topology.

During the time between the Transit node detecting that its link is restored and the Master node detecting that the ring is restored, the Master node’s Secondary port is still forwarding traffic. This can create a temporary loop in the topology. To prevent this, the Transit node places all the ring ports transiting the newly restored port into a temporary blocked state. The Transit node remembers which port has been temporarily blocked and places it into a pre- forwarding state. When the Transit node in the pre-forwarding state receives the control frame instructing it to clear its routing table, it does so and unblocks the previously blocked ring ports on the newly restored port. Then the Transit node returns to the Normal state.