The Spanning Tree Protocol, sometimes just referred to as Spanning Tree, is the Waze or MapQuest of modern Ethernet networks, directing traffic along the most efficient route based on real-time ...

I am amazed by the number of networks that I encounter that do not have optimal spanning tree configurations. I first read Radia Perlman’s book “Interconnections” back in 1994. I am amazed that 15 ...

Independent spanning trees, often realised as completely independent spanning trees (CISTs), form a foundational concept in network design and routing. They consist of multiple spanning trees ...

Joel is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of security, networking and messaging. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @joelsnyder. Building enterprise networks with routers and switches ...

An algorithm that runs in network bridges and switches to prevent loops, in which packets keep going around in circles. In a small network with one or two switches, the spanning tree protocol (STP) ...