Dear forum,
i have connected 2 x Peplink sd 24 switches using each switch‘s port 24 with 2 of my Balance router‘s LAN ports. To enhance fail-safe reliability, i also connected both switches using glass fibre channel via port 25 and turned on Loop protection (active mode) for both.
Is that correct? Or do I have to configure one of the switches to be in passive mode?
Did not understood the difference in detail acc. To the manual….
Kind regards
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Does noone has any comment on this topic?
@sitloongs : can you maybe please help me further?
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Hi,
I looked into this in more detail and wanted to share the correct setup and my learning:
Short answer:
- I should NOT rely on Loop Protection (Active) for switch-to-switch redundancy
- STP/RSTP must be used as the primary loop prevention mechanism
- Loop Protection is only a fallback safety feature
My setup:
- 2x Peplink SD Switches
- both connected to the Balance router (2 separate LAN ports)
- additional fiber link between the switches
This creates a Layer2 loop by design, so it must be handled properly.
Correct approach:
- Enable RSTP on all switches (default is fine)
- Keep all inter-switch and router uplinks as Trunk ports
- Do NOT use Loop Protection Active on these links
- Optionally use Loop Protection Passive as a safeguard
Reason:
- STP/RSTP is designed exactly for this topology and will block one path cleanly
- Loop Protection Active sends probe frames and may falsely detect loops or shut down ports
- In redundant topologies, Active mode can interfere with STP and cause instability
When Active mode makes sense:
- On “unsafe” access scenarios (e.g. patch panels, unknown cabling)
- NOT on controlled uplinks between switches or to the router
- Powerline Distributing Switch
Conclusion:
- The topology itself is correct
- Loop handling should be done by RSTP, not Active Loop Protection
- Best practice:
- Uplinks: RSTP enabled + Loop Protection Passive (optional)
- No Active mode on these links
Hope this helps others as well.
Regards
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