Topology Change (TC) packets are sent when MSTP-enabled interface in a network flaps. If
a physical interface frequently alternates between Up and Down, the MSTP status of the
device in the network becomes unsteady. As a result, a large number of TC messages are
generated, ARP entries are frequently deleted and services are interrupted.
Lets look at the log, generated on one of the switches in a network. Lets take S9300 switch
as an example:
The most important for us is the port number on which the switch received TC packet, in this
case interface GE6/0/0. To troubleshoot this problem we have to go to the next switch,
connected to interface GE6/0/0 and check logs of that switch. If the neighbouring switch
receives TC packets as well, we have to do further troubleshooting. If we find in the logs that
MSTP-enabled interface is flapping, we can consider that this interface is the source of the
TC packet. If this interface is still flapping, just make it down, to avoid unsteady behaviour.
If a switch receives lots of TC packets, please run the following hidden command several
times to check and compare which ports receive a large number of TC packets: