Parallel operation of rstp (rapid spanning tree protocol) and mrp (media redundancy protocol) and segmentation/coupling

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for running a network, in particular an Ethernet network with redundancy properties, wherein the network has a ring network topology, in which network devices are connected to each other with the data ports thereof via data lines and exchange control data and user data by means of protocols via the data lines, wherein the protocols prevent the transmission of network traffic via certain data ports of individual network devices with the exception of network traffic for controlling and/or monitoring the media redundancy, in order to avoid an endless circulation of network traffic in physical loops of the network, wherein it is provided according to the invention that at least two different protocols are executed parallel to each other in the network on the network devices, wherein the parallel operation of the at least two redundancy protocols is enabled by the fact that the control over the data ports to be blocked is assigned to an individual redundancy, or the parameters for the at least two redundancy protocols are chosen and/or the work processes of the redundancy protocols are arranged that one redundancy protocol does not block connections which the other redundancy protocol regards as active.