Simple Fact About Spanning Tree Protocol
This video describes the working principles of STP as an overview.
It helps viewers imagine how a tree topology is derived from enabling the STP process.
On a switched network, in order to improve reliability and eliminate single point of failure between hosts, switches may be connected to form a looped network so as to provide multiple paths for frames to be forwarded. However, the data forwarding mechanism of a switching device when connected in this form, causes problems such as broadcast storms, mac-address table flapping, and duplicate frame reception by connected hosts.
To address this problem, the Spanning tree protocol is introduced and enabled on switches. This protocol ensures that a switched network with possible switching loops can be transformed to an inverted tree topology starting with a root bridge/switch and extending out like the branches of an actual tree. Thereby temporarily eliminating loops and improving reliability of the network.