# FlexLinks
**URL:** https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146
**Category:** Lessons Discussion
**Created:** [December 27, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146 "2016-12-27T16:34:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ReneMolenaar](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ReneMolenaar)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/1 "2016-12-27T16:34:45Z")
This topic is to discuss the following lesson:
> **[Flex Links](https://networklessons.com/switching/flex-links)**
>
> Flex Links are an alternative to spanning tree, where we use "active" and "standby" interfaces. Spanning tree is disabled on these interfaces.
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### Author:  [@tkalis](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/tkalis)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/2 "2015-08-31T01:50:18Z")
Rene,
Hi. In a normal working state, what does the interface status look like if one were to say issue a “show interface status” or “show interface F0/16” in this case?
Many thanks.
Thomas
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### Author:  [@ReneMolenaar](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ReneMolenaar)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2015, 10:56am UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/3 "2015-08-31T10:56:15Z")
Hi Thomas,
It should show something like “standby mode” line protocol down instead of up/up.
Rene
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### Author:  [@johnfrades](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/johnfrades)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/4 "2015-10-13T04:21:40Z")
is there any reason to run flexlink rather than STP?
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### Author:  [@ReneMolenaar](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ReneMolenaar)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/5 "2015-10-13T16:59:28Z")
I think the only advantage is the convergence time, flexlinks are faster than RSTP.
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### Author:  [@ranjanagajjar](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ranjanagajjar)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2016, 6:54am UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/6 "2016-02-16T06:54:51Z")
Hi Rene,
Can you explain what if failed link get backup, will it automatically switch over to active link.?
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### Author:  [@ReneMolenaar](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ReneMolenaar)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/7 "2016-02-17T14:59:17Z")
Hi Ranjana,
Yes it will switch back to the active link.
Rene
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### Author:  [@Zaman.rubd](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/Zaman.rubd)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/8 "2016-05-26T16:05:21Z")
Hi Rene,
ANY Ethernet Frame will not send to Backup link if receive then discarded , right ??
Flexlink can work with Many link ??
br//
zaman
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### Author:  [@ReneMolenaar](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ReneMolenaar)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/9 "2016-06-01T13:28:09Z")
Hi Zaman,
The backup link is not used at all…unless the primary link fails. One flexlink has 1 primary and 1 backup link, you can configure multiple flexlink pairs though…the maximum number depends on the platform.
Rene
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### Author:  [@riconorway](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/riconorway)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/10 "2016-06-07T16:51:53Z")
Hei Rene,
Cisco says something else:
If port 1 goes down, port 2 comes up and starts forwarding traffic to switch C. When port 1 comes back up, it goes into standby mode and does not forward traffic; port 2 continues forwarding traffic.
But I Strongly agree with you! because i have done it on ME3400 live with customer:
When it was nothing connected to Gig 0/2 on ME3400:
`GigabitEthernet0/1 GigabitEthernet0/2 Active Up/Backup Down`
When he connected the lan cabel to Gig 0/2:
`GigabitEthernet0/1 GigabitEthernet0/2 Active Up/Backup Standby`
when he took Gig 0/1 out:
`GigabitEthernet0/1 GigabitEthernet0/2 Active Down/Backup Up`
when he connected Gig 0/1 back, For 5 sec the main interface was in standby mode:
`GigabitEthernet0/1 GigabitEthernet0/2 Active Standby/Backup Up`
Gig 0/1 took control:
`GigabitEthernet0/1 GigabitEthernet0/2 Active Up/Backup Standby`
Regards,
Jie
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### Author:  [@adave1103](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/adave1103)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2016, 7:16am UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/11 "2016-07-30T07:16:26Z")
Thanks Rene for sharing this concept. But do you in real network people using flexlinks over STP?
Thanks
Abhihsek
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### Author:  [@adamleff](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/adamleff)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/12 "2016-10-20T20:55:39Z")
Some environments such as industrial have weird policies like “No spanning-tree allowed anywhere.” In this case a network designer can get around the policy with flex links.
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### Author:  [@sales2161](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/sales2161)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/flexlinks/1146/13 "2019-05-02T01:07:52Z")
Some customers don’t like the overhead that STP causes on their CPU while computing its BPDUs. They want the entire cycle to be dedicated to the actual Users’ data forwarding. Therefore, they have to find something which consumes little to 0 load on the CPU. **Flex links is their option**