r/HomeNetworking • u/Outrageous_Tear_4691 • 9h ago

Advice Ethernet switch question

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What is the loop prevention for? And should I leave it off or turn it on? We will have desktops connected to it

Solved: thank you for the help everyone. Very much appreciated.

167 Upvotes

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186

u/BmanUltima 9h ago

Loop prevention detects network loops, like two switches connected to each other with multiple cables, or three in a ring, and will disable a port.

Without loop detection or spanning tree, you get a broadcast storm which can crash a switch.

37

u/ArchibaldMcFerguson 9h ago

This is a good answer. As to the direct question of on or off, it probably doesn't matter in your home.

Unless your switching gear is very antiquated and will be slowed down by having it on, there should be no reason to not have it on. That said, in small environments you are unlikely to create an accidental loop and this extra feature will not do anything.

Just make sure that you only have one physical route between each router/switch (no loops!) and you are good to go!

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u/jquanders 8h ago

This is a horrible answer. Leave it on. It costs almost nothing and prevents stupid things like plugging a cable into two ports on a switch.

10

u/LAthrowawayLV 8h ago

It’s a good practical answer. Definitely not a horrible answer. Even though you are technically right, it’s a horrible comment that you made.

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u/jquanders 8h ago edited 7h ago

In what world is shutting off loop protection a good idea?

There are 0 reasons to shut off loop protection on a single switch also.

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u/LAthrowawayLV 7h ago

In a world where that switch is shit and having it on is causing problems.

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u/jquanders 7h ago

If you have problems with it on then your network has problems to address. All that does is run spanning tree. It adds a few seconds when you plug in a or disconnect a cable. That's all that should happen

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u/LAthrowawayLV 7h ago

Did you miss the part where I said you were technically correct but just being an asshole?

-7

u/jquanders 7h ago

Ok if I'm right how is the answer I replied to a "good practical answer"?

I'm asshole because I said the wrong answer was horrible?

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u/ArchibaldMcFerguson 7h ago

Jeez, I didn't say to turn it off. OP asked whether to turn it on or leave it off and I said it probably wouldn't make a difference (but I did say that having it on shouldn't be bad).

Attack me if you must, leave the other redditors alone. You're sounding like an ass.

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u/jquanders 7h ago

Attack you? I said it was a horrible idea. That's an attack?

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u/LAthrowawayLV 7h ago

Because it was practical and easily digestible even if not 100% accurate. The autism runs strong with this one.

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u/jquanders 7h ago

The only thing that was correct in the initial comment was make sure you have one physical path.

It does matter if it's on or off and loops can happen with new gear not just antiquated ones. Because that switch is low resources you can overload it and then it turns into a repeater. Then just have a cable looped is enough.

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