Technical Enhancements to STP (IEEE 802.1D) Implementation

A computer implemented method comprising:

• examining, by a first network device configured to perform packet switching, a first data message at a root port of the first network device that includes identification of a current root network device and a priority value of the current root network device;
• after the examining of the first data message, examining, by the first network device, a second data message at a second port of the first network device that includes identification of a second network device;
• and
• after the examining of the second data message, if a message age timer of the first network device has less than a limiting message age time value remaining before expiry, then blocking a reply, by the second port of the first network device, to the second data message from the second network device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of ports;
• and
• one or more engines configured to:
• examine a first data message at a root port of the apparatus that includes identification of a current root network device and a priority value of the current root network device;
• after the examination of the first data message, examining a second data message at a second port of the apparatus that includes identification of a second network device;
• and
• after the examination of the second data message, if a message age timer of the apparatus has less than a limiting message age time value remaining before expiry, then blocking a reply, by the second port of the apparatus, to the second data message from the second network device.

A machine-readable medium having a program of instructions stored thereon that are executable by a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

• examining, by a first network device configured to perform packet switching, a first data message at a root port of the first network device that includes identification of a current root network device and a priority value of the current root network device;
• after the examining of the first data message, examining, by the first network device, a second data message at a second port of the first network device that includes identification of a second network device;
• and
• after the examining of the second data message, if a message age timer of the first network device has less than a limiting message age time value remaining before expiry, then blocking a reply, by the second port of the first network device, to the second data message from the second network device.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for examining, by a first network device configured to perform packet switching, a first data message at a root port of the first network device that includes identification of a current root network device and a priority value of the current root network device;
• means for, after the examining of the first data message, examining, by the first network device, a second data message at a second port of the first network device that includes identification of a second network device;
• and
• means for, after the examining of the second data message, if a message age timer of the first network device has less than a limiting message age time value remaining before expiry, then blocking a reply, by the second port of the first network device, to the second data message from the second network device.