[ILUG] Delay between link up and forwarding frames?

[Kenn Humborg]

> Hi,
> 
> On Fri, 09 Jan 2009, Kenn Humborg wrote:
> 
> > I've got machines (Dell PE2950) running CentOS 5.2 
> > connected to a Dell 5448 GigE switch.
> > 
> > It seems that after bringing up an Ethernet interface
> > on the server, it is 30 seconds before I can ping anything.
> > That doesn't seem normal to me...
> > 
> > This breaks some things that require access to automounted
> > directories during boot.
> 
> It sounds a bit like spanning tree is turned on on the switch.  You could
> try either of:
> 
> 1. Turn off spanning tree on the switch.
> 2. Change the spanning tree settings for that port to "portfast" or
>    whatever the equivalent name is on your Dell switch.
> 
> It might be something else, but that's what comes to mind in my 
> experience. 

OK - I'll give it a try.

If I understanding it correctly, spanning tree is only needed on
switch-to-switch links, so I need to remember to turn it back on
if I ever connect a switch to one of these ports.  Correct?

Later,
Kenn