Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides for a method for use in a network device of a plurality of network devices configured to implement a link management protocol for blocking ports corresponding to redundant links between individual network devices of the plurality of network devices. The method is used for preventing delivery of selected traffic to and from a port of the network device. Preventing, at the network device, delivery of the selected traffic to the port includes determining that a port corresponding to a remote device is to be placed in a blocked state and transmitting a port blocking notification message to the remote device, wherein the port block notification message is operative to cause the remote device to stop transmitting the selected traffic to the network device on the port. Preventing, at the network device, delivery of the selected traffic from the port includes receiving a bridge protocol data unit (BPDU) and determining if the BPDU is a port block notification message.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to enhancing the interoperability of network devices with static native virtual LAN (VLAN) configurations with other network devices where the native VLAN is a configurable parameter. In some implementations, the network devices having configurable native VLANs conditionally add VLAN tags to common Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) transmitted to network devices where the native VLAN is static and strip any VLAN tags from the common STP BPDUs that are received.