What is STP used for?

The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) maintains loop-free links between devices in Ethernet networks to ensure stable network performance. This is especially useful when there are multiple Switches in a local area network (LAN), as they are often interconnected via multiple Ethernet links to improve resilience. The Spanning Tree Protocol is able to recognize and disable redundant Ethernet links, preventing problematic bridge loops by leaving only a single active path between two devices.

The STP is enabled by default in the network settings on the Plasma Cloud console. Generally, it is advised to keep it that way. However, you may consider disabling the STP functionality whenever it creates interference with other non-Plasma Cloud devices in the network (e.g., by blocking Ethernet ports that should not be blocked).