Q:

Is this a switch loop?

I have a quesion regarding creating switch loops.
I have 1 server with 2 network cards (nic1 and nic2) and 2 switches (sw1 and sw2)
Question:
Am I creating a switch loop if I connect nic1 to sw1 and nic2 to sw2 and I cascade sw1 and sw2?
NOTE: no spanning tree in place

A:

Not unless you install some kind of bridge on the PC with the two NIC's, no.
This is a pretty standard setup for a redundant network.
Your situation mirrors an example in the ciscopress switch redundancy article.

