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Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

Title:DEChub/HUBwatch/PROBEwatch CONFERENCE
Notice:Firmware -2, Doc -3, Power -4, HW kits -5, firm load -6&7
Moderator:NETCAD::COLELLADT
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4455
Total number of notes:16761

2374.0. "DEWGF and Spanning Tree" by VAXRIO::ROLF (Vaporware Design Specialist) Mon Jun 12 1995 18:00

    Not exactly a HUB problem, but maybe someone here can help?

	(cross-posted in ETHERNET notesfile)

    Large steelmill has a simple but large fiber network connecting 
    essentially two nodes by two different fiber routes. Each route has two 
    DEWGF-AAs, purely for distance reasons, and along the route are also
    some repeaters and industrial control stations, not more than 30 nodes
    in all.
    
    Everything works fine, but I have been asked by the customer HOW he
    can control which of the 4 bridges goes into stand-by mode when the
    network is brought up.
    
    I suggested that he either
    
    - bring up the power on the bridge he wants to be in back-up last, or
    
    - try relocating the bridges along the network so that the Spanning
      Tree algorithm "automatically" selects the right one for stand-by.
    
    I am not very happy myself with the second alternative, as I imagine
    that it also involves the power up sequence.
    
    Not being a guru at bridges and spanning Tree, can anyone suggest
    anything else we might suggest this customer?
    
    And for my own benefit, can someone confirm if the root-bridge is 
    really the one with the lowest Ethernet address?
    
    Any help is greatly appreciated!
    
    Rolf, MCS - DEC Brasil
    
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2374.1Physically move them & leave them aloneNETCAD::BATTERSBYMon Jun 12 1995 19:2111
    The root bridge by default is always the one with the lowest
    Ethernet address. So if he knows what all the Ethernet addresses
    of his bridges are, he could physically place the DEWGF-AA with
    the highest address in the location desired for the one to be in 
    backup. If the power in the plant comes on at the same time, there
    is plenty of time (30 seconds) while the DEWGF's learn each other 
    and determine who the root bridge is (and as a result they will 
    learn where the redundant paths are), and the bridges in the redundant
    paths will presumably be the bridges with the highest addresses.
    
    Bob
2374.2NPSS::MDLYONSMichael D. Lyons DTN 226-6943Tue Jun 13 1995 14:1213
        ...note that other vendors may use different default root
    priorities.  For example, the IEEE spec actually recommends 32768 as
    the default. It is always safer to set the root priorities of your
    bridges to appropriate values to assure that you get the results you
    expect.  Be careful when replacing bridges!
    
        Root priority takes precedence over the MAC address, which is used
    as the tie-break for equal root priorities.
    
        Also note that the order in which you power on the bridges has no
    effect on the outcome of spanning tree.  If the priorities and/or MAC
    addresses are such that the newly powered on bridge should be the
    active path, a spanning tree transition will take place.
2374.3ThanksVAXRIO::ROLFVaporware Design SpecialistWed Jun 14 1995 15:388
    OK, so that only leaves the physical placement of the boxes, because
    that LAN has nothing that could manage the bridges (DECbridge90's).
    
    Actually, the fact that the power up sequence does not change the ultimate
    spanning Tree result, makes much more sense.
    
    Thanks again!
    Rolf
2374.4Can you Set Priority via MOP on DEWGx ?MSDOA::REEDJohn Reed @CBO = Network ServicesThu Jun 15 1995 03:5617
    You can manage a DECbridge 90 using any MOP host (such as a VAX, or an
    ULTRIX node) by doing an 
    
    NCP> connect node via isa-0 phys address 08-00-2b-23-34-56
    
    This will allow you to communicate with the bridge, and do SET and
    SHOW commands.  I beleive that the spanning tree PRIORITY is factory
    set in the Bridge 90 at FF-FF, in the assumption that this bridge is a
    "leaf bridge", and therefore not likely to ever be the root if ANY
    OTHER bridge type is on the network.   
    
    IF you can modify the priority, then you can make the tree behave
    precisely as you wish under any circumstance.  
    
    Good Luck
    
    JR
2374.5seems to be workingVAXRIO::ROLFVaporware Design SpecialistTue Jun 20 1995 12:5317
    We tried to change the priority of a DECbridge90 here in the office,
    but NCP won't allow you to do that. You can access every other
    parameter, but not the priority, from the looks of it!
    
    Hubwatch however seems to allow you to access the priority, but since
    that customer doesn't have HUBwatch, it's really unimportant.
    
    Guess we're stuck with the option of physical placement of the boxes.
    
    Other than that the network is running fine, which made me happy,
    because we designed that some 3 years ago when it was still sort of
    taboo to have DECbridge90's in sequence....
    
    I havn't heard from the customer lately (no news is good news!), but 
    will post results here.
    
    Rolf 
2374.6NETCAD::ANILWed Jun 21 1995 16:324
    Another way to do it is by changing links costs - make them higher
    on the bridges you want to have in standby.
    
    Anil