Allied Telesis AT-S20 - Manual (Page 117)

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This appendix provides a brief explanation of Spanning Tree
Algorithm and its use with the switch.
For detailed information on the operation of the Spanning Tree
Algorithm, consult IEEE Std 802.1D, ISO/IEC 10038: 1993.
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The switch, which runs the AT-S20 software, also implements the
IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). The STP provides a
network with robustness and allows network administrators to easily
change their network topology. Its implementation reduces complex
network topologies (networks with multiple paths between source
and destination nodes) to a single active topology. This technique
guarantees that loops do not occur between source and destination
nodes of the network. Loops are eliminated by placing some of the
redundant ports in a blocking state, in which they do not forward
packets but continue to execute the protocol. If the network
topology changes, for example by the failure, removal, or addition of
an active network node, a blocked port may be included in the new
active topology and begin forwarding frames.