Distributed Trunking or trunking with STP?

[lcitsupport]

I'm trying to create switch network that features redundancy with STP as shown below. However, I found in the 8212zl switch manual that I can use Distributed Trunking that is designed for redundancy, but DT disables STP.

What do you recommend for redundancy? Distributed Trunking? Or just trunking with STP?

[LorenzoCastro]

I have not worked with DT in quite a while, but if you are going to run it make sure you are running a later release of software on your core switches.   I would work with 15.05 or later.  I had some major issues running it with earlier versions of code on 8200s with redundant management modules.  Also, looks like you are going to run it across an 8200 and 5400?  That would make me hesitant to run DT as well, but I don't see any restriction or requirement of having the same switch models.  I don't think STP is completely disabled, but rather just disabled on the ISL, peer keepalive and DT ports, but like I mentioned it's been a little while since I've configured DT.  Personally, I would just manage something like VRRP and MSTP rather than go through the setup and configuration of DT. 

[paulgear]

Hi lcitsupport,

I haven't worked with DT on 5400/8200 switches, but if it's the same as other similar technologies (e.g. IRF), then the DT links appear as a single LACP trunk to the edge switches. So STP is not needed on the DT ports because there are no loops.

[Richard Litchfield]

Are those devices in a semi-circle at the bottom of the diagram switches (eg ITSW01)?

If so, you will need at least firmware K15.08. This allows concurrent features that were previously mutually exclusive. You can now have distributed trunking and routing concurrently. It also allows switch-switch distributed trunking. Previously, only server-switch distributed trunking was possible.

There is a limit to the number of DT-LACP links too - check the manual, but I think it is 64. You need to check the limits though, because you have quite a few devices to connect.

So you could have VRRP (providing redundant gateways) and distributed trunking (providing high availability and increased bandwidth not possible with STP) running on an 8200 dual-core - very nice!

https://h10145.www1.hp.com/downloads/SoftwareReleases.aspx?ProductNumber=J9539A&lang=&cc=&prodSeriesId=

K15.09 (K15.10 early availability)

[darrenlynn]

I have a few questions as to how Spaning Tree should work in the attached diagram.

Currently I have 2 x 8212 on level 10 with an ISC and 2 x 8212 on level 2, again as an ISC pair.

Level 10 has users with voice and data

Level 2 has users with voice and data plus servers and both gateways to the internet

across both levels i need to run 3 other network video, guest and WLAN users

I have a DT trunk between the pairs of switches

This has caused each floor to become their own CST spanning tree domain with one of the 2 switches on each floor becoming the root brodge.

Im currently seeing an issues with voice where on occasion (very random) when a call is set up between the 2 floors, the user on level 2 cant hear the user on level 10. the very next call will work as intended

I believe I have a spanning tree issue, but im a novice on HP switching, coming from an extensive Cisco background.

Can anyone affer advice on configuration, or explain how spanning tree and Distributed trunking interact?

[deflowjo]

darrenlynn

how did you setup the dt-trunks?

did you set up dt-trunk ports on all 4 switches? so dt-trunk ports on level 10 switches, on each switch, connected to dt-trunk ports on level 2 switches?

[deflowjo]

i have configured all the ports with trk2 dt-lacp, (except for the switch interconnect)

now it forms 1 big trunk with 4 network cables between the 2 pairs of switches