Aggregating data traffic from access domains

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store computer executable instructions;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory, the processors configured, when executing the instructions, to:
• generate, independently of a spanning tree protocol instance, a first protocol message identifying a best root node of a spanning tree implemented by an access domain;
• transmit the first protocol message from a first aggregation node to a plurality of access nodes of the access domain;
• receive data traffic from the plurality of access nodes, each access node of the plurality of access nodes implementing a spanning tree protocol instance that selects the best root node as a root node of the spanning tree;
• and
• aggregate the data traffic and other data traffic of a plurality of access domains and transmit the aggregated data traffic to an aggregation network.

A tangible computer-readable medium having computer-executable code, when executed by a computer operable to:

• generate, independently of a spanning tree protocol instance, a first protocol message identifying a best root node of a spanning tree implemented by an access domain;
• transmit the first protocol message from a first aggregation node to a plurality of access nodes of the access domain;
• receive data traffic from the plurality of access nodes, each access node of the plurality of access nodes implementing a spanning tree protocol instance that selects the best root node as a root node of the spanning tree;
• and
• aggregate the data traffic and other data traffic of a plurality of access domains and transmit the aggregated data traffic to an aggregation network.