
RTL8305SB 
2002/04/09 
48
Rev.1.0
7.3.13 Loop Detection 
Loops should be avoided between switch applications. The simplest loop as shown below results in: 1) Unicast frame 
duplication; 2) Broadcast frame multiplication; 3) Address table nonconvergence. Frame may be transmitted from Switch1 to 
Switch2 via Link1, then return to Switch1 via Link2. 
S w i t c h  1
S w i t c h  2
L i n k 2
L i n k 1
Figure 2: Example of Loop 
When the loop detection function is enabled by setting DisLoop=0 in EEPROM or an internal register, the RTL8305SB 
periodically sends out a broadcast 64-byte packet every 3~5 minutes and automatically detect whether if there is a network loop 
(or bridge loop) existence. The LoopLED# will be ON (active low or high) to indicate that a loop exits. The LED goes out by 
unplugging both of the RTL8305SB ports of the loop. The Loop frame length is 64 bytes and its format as shown below. 
Table 7: Loop frame format 
 FFFF FFFF FFFF   SID 
 8899   0300  000…0000 
 CRC 
In order to achieve loop detection, each switch device needs different SID (Source MAC address Identifier) for detection. So 
that, the different EtherID is needed for each device when the loop detection function is enabled. If the EEPROM is not used, a 
unique EtherID via SMI should be assigned after reset and the default EtherID (0x5254 4c83 05b0) should not be used. 
Ethernet MAC address byte (bit) ordering: For example, MAC address is 52 54 4c 00 01 02. According to 802.3, 0x52 is byte 
0, 0x54 is byte 1, 0x02 is byte 5, 
        Byte 0     Byte 1       Byte 2      Byte 3      Byte 4      Byte 5 
Bytes ---  52         54          4c         00         01          02 
Bits  ---  0101  0010   0101 0100   0100 1100   0000 0000   0000 0001   0000 0010 
        Bit7      Bit0 Bit15    Bit8       …………….                 Bit47    Bit40 
The order of bit transmission is low-order bit first. From bit0 to bit47: 
       0100 1010   0010 1010  0011 0010   0000 0000   1000 0000   0010 0000