Can't make GVRP work between 5500EI and 5120SI

[sundoo]

Given the config: 

5500EI connected via a Bridge-Inteface to the 5120SI (2 Ports aggregation). 

the problem is that when I create a VLAN on the 5500 - It doesn't appear on the 5120. 

Config: 

gvrp enabled globally on both switches

gvrp enabled on the Bridge-Aggregation Interface

5500EI

---------

gvrp

interface Bridge-Aggregation100
port link-type trunk
port trunk permit vlan all
link-aggregation mode dynamic
gvrp
mad enable
#

interface GigabitEthernet1/0/49
port link-mode bridge
port link-type trunk
port trunk permit vlan all
port link-aggregation group 100
#
interface GigabitEthernet2/0/49
port link-mode bridge
port link-type trunk
port trunk permit vlan all
port link-aggregation group 100
#

5120SI

---------

gvrp

interface Bridge-Aggregation2
port link-type trunk
port trunk permit vlan all
link-aggregation mode dynamic
gvrp

interface GigabitEthernet1/0/49
port link-type trunk
port trunk permit vlan all
port link-aggregation group 2
#

interface GigabitEthernet1/0/50
port link-type trunk
port trunk permit vlan all
port link-aggregation group 2
#

Strangely enough, the same config between a 5500EI and a 5120EI works great. 

But this one with 5500EI and 5120SI doesn't work

Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[paulgear]

Hi sundoo,

I don't know the answer, but if you work it out, please post a follow-up. Have you checked that you're on the latest firmware for both switch models?

[sundoo · Accepted solution]

Ok, the problem is solved (Thanks a lot to Kiet Chu from HP Support)

The problem was in spanning-tree. In PVST more precisely. Here's what H3C says about GVRP: 

GVRP can work with STP, RSTP, or MSTP CIST but not PVST. When GVRP runs on the CIST, blocked ports on the CIST cannot receive/send GVRP packets. For more information about STP, RSTP, MSTP CIST, and PVST, see the chapter “Configuring spanning tree.”

Yes, it turns out that GVRP and PVST are incompatible (never would have thought)

As I changed the Spanning Tree version to RSTP, GVRP started advertising VLAN information successfully. 

Thanks to all. Case closed !