Our setup:
I have an Appassure server that is sitting on an HP 2810G switch
This server has two Gig-E links, one going to a TrueNAS 14TB array, and another going to it's own VLAN on an ancillary switch (HP 2810G) on our data network to our primary core switch (HP 5412zl). This switch then connects with the rest of our switches and our Cisco 2920 router which feeds into Cisco 3560-X switch. This 3560-X has a Gig-Fiber link back to our other office...similar setup on the other side, with the destination being the servers I want to back up.
Important info: The 5412zl has redundant interconnects leading from itself to two other switches, which in turn are interconnected between themselves. We have spanning tree enabled everywhere needed:
1 2 | spanning-tree
spanning-tree force-version rstp-operation
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The problem:
When I run my backups, I can see this data on all of the interconnected switches - so, even though I assume that my traffic should flow directly through Switch1 -> Core Switch2 -> Perimeter Router1 -> Perimeter Switch1 (WAN setup), it does not.
What I see is:
Switch1 int 1 -> Core Switch2 int H22 -> Core Switch4 int L21-> Core Switch5 int F21 -> Core Switch5 int F21 -> Core Switch4 int L22 -> Core Switch2 int H18 -> Router1 int gi0/0 -> Perimeter Switch1
The only reason I am assuming this is that I see practically mirrored in/out statistics for all these ports, with exception to first couple of ports and then the last switch port and including our router (just shows proper outbound stats).
I'm no expert, and I've not yet gotten to this chapter (I'm actually studying for my CCNA..!) - This sounds like a Spanning Tree issue to me. Do I need to set the priority on the interfaces for the most direct route out through the interface from Core Switch2 to CoreSwitch1? If so, is this something that should be done after-hours?
Is there a way to show where/how the frame flows throughout the switches? When you do a traceroute, it shows what it should...out one switch, to the router, and then to my destination. So, this is telling me it is not a routing issue. Am I correct?
