The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods N4N013: Spanning Tree Part 1 – An Introduction and Broadcast Storms
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Feb 13, 2025 Delve into the mysterious world of spanning tree protocol and discover why disabling it is a common misconception. Learn about its crucial role in preventing network loops and the evolution from spanning tree to modern networking technologies like EVPN and VXLAN. Explore the differences between unicast, multicast, and broadcast, while understanding the disruptive nature of broadcast storms. The podcast also sheds light on the architecture of contemporary network switches and invites listeners to engage in ongoing discussions for deeper insights.
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Ethernet's Lack of TTL
- Ethernet lacks a Time To Live (TTL) concept, unlike other network protocols.
- This absence of TTL allows Ethernet frames, especially broadcasts, to loop endlessly in redundant setups.
Broadcast Storm Anecdote
- Ethan Banks recalls witnessing a broadcast storm caused by a cabling loop.
- He noticed unusually rapid blinking lights on the switches, indicating excessive traffic.
Broadcast Storm Mechanics
- Broadcast storms occur when broadcast frames continuously loop within a network.
- This constant looping overwhelms network devices, disrupting normal traffic flow.