When multiple switches are arranged in a simple hierarchical tree, switching loops are unlikely to occur in a Cloud Hosting or a Website Hosting that has a Dedicated Server on it. However, switched networks are often designed with redundant paths to provide for reliability and fault tolerance. Redundant paths are desirable but they can have undesirable side effects such as switching loops. Switching loops are one such side effect. Switching loops can occur by design or by accident, and they can lead to broadcast storms that will rapidly overwhelm a network.
A Spanning – Tree Protocol is a standards-based protocol that is used to avoid switching loops. Each switch in a LAN that uses STP sends messages called Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) out all its ports to let other switches know of its existence. This information is used to elect a root bridge for the network. The switches use the spanning-tree algorithm (STA) to resolve and shut down the redundant paths.
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