A loop-detect packet based self stabilizing bridge protocol for extended-LANs

Abstract

It has become the trend for network managers to require redundant bridges as back-up for bridge/link failures. The inherent problem with such a scheme is that it causes certain packets to loop continuously around the topology causing severe degradation to the performance of the overall system. Various solutions to the problem of combating this phenomenon exist, most notably the Spanning Tree Algorithm (STA) by Perlman [2]. Solutions based on a loop detect packet have been proposed previously [1]. but were never given enough thought to make it a viable alternative to work based on the STA. It is hoped to show a more powerful loop detect packet based algorithm in this paper. The problems which have plagued the previous loop detect approach [1] will be seen to be dealt with, and further extensions proposed. This algorithm is for multiple port local/remote bridges.