What Is STP

What is STP?
 The function of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is to prevent Layer 2 switching loops and
broadcast storms in a Local Area Network (LAN) because of redundant links.
What is the reason for developing another version STP i.e. RSTP?
 Because of the slow convergence time of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) IEEE 802.1D,
another version of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP IEEE 802.1W) is developed, which is also
known as Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), which has much better convergence time.
What is Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) frame?
 Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) frames contain information regarding the Switch ID,
originating switch port, MAC address, switch port priority, switch port cost etc.
What are the different types of BPDUs?
 Configuration BPDU, used by Spanning tree protocol to provide information to all switches.
 TCN (Topology Change Notification), tell about changes in the topology.
 TCA (Topology Change Acknowledgment), confirm the reception of the TCN.
What is Switch Priority Value (Bridge Priority)?
 Switch Priority Value is a 16-bit binary number.

 The Switch Priority, which is a numerical value defined by IEEE 802.1D, which is equal to
32,768 by default.
 Switch Priority value decides which Switch can become Root Bridge (Root Switch).
 The Switch Priority value is used to find the Switch ID.
What is Switch ID (Bridge ID)?
 Ø Switch ID decides which Switch can become Root Switch. A Switch with lowest Switch ID will
become the Root Switch.

 The Switch Priority which is a numerical value defined by IEEE 802.1D, which is equal to
32,768 by default.
 The MAC Address of the Switch.
What is Root Switch (Root Bridge)?
 The root bridge function is only for the spanning tree protocol.
 The other switches refer to the root switch to find redundant paths so as to ensure NO Layer
2 Loops exist.
 The main function of the root switch is to broadcast network topology changes to all the
switches in the network
 When a switch detects a topology change (i.e., a trunk goes down) it sends a topology
change notification (TCN) BPDU to the root switch. The root switch then broadcasts that
topology change out to the other switches.
 If each switch could broadcast change notifications to the other switches it would be total
chaos.
What is Root Port?
 Once the Root Switch is elected, every other Switch in the network must select a single port
on itself to reach the Root Switch.
 The single selected port on a Switch with least Path Cost to reach the Root Bridge is called
the Root Port.
 Root Bridge (Switch) will never have a Root Port.
What is Spanning Tree Port Priority?
 Each port of a Switch has a Spanning Tree Port Priority value associated with it, which is
equal to 128 by default.
What is PVST?
 Cisco first developed a protocol that expands on the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) as
PVST, which worked with the Cisco ISL trunking protocol.
What is PVST+?
 Cisco later developed PVST+ which utilizes the 802.1Q trunking protocol.
What is the working of PVST or PVST+?
 By creating a separate spanning tree for each VLAN, data traffic from the different VLANs
can take different paths across the network, as opposed to all switched traffic taking the
same path. This can effectively create a load balancing situation and improve network
efficiency.
 By default the Cisco switches in Packet Tracer appear to be using PVST+ as the default
implementation of spanning tree protocol.
What is RSTP?
 Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is an enhancement of the original STP 802.1D
protocol. The RSTP 802.1w protocol is an IEEE open implementation.
What is Rapid-PVST+?
 Cisco has its own proprietary implementation of RSTP, that includes the benefits of its Per-
VLAN spanning tree protocols, called Rapid-PVST+.
What is the working of RSTP and Rapid-PVST+?
 Rapid-PVST+ and RSTP are important enhancements to the original STP protocol because
they can switch ports from blocking to forwarding without relying on timers, execute spanning
tree calculations and converge the network faster than STP.
 In STP, network convergence can take up to 50 seconds, with RSTP and Rapid-PVST+
network convergence can happen in just over 6 seconds.

What Is STP

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What Is STP

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What is STP?

What is Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) frame?

What are the different types of BPDUs?

 Switch Priority Value is a 16-bit binary number.

What is Switch ID (Bridge ID)?

become the Root Switch.

What is Root Switch (Root Bridge)?

What is Root Port?

What is Spanning Tree Port Priority?

What is the working of PVST or PVST+?

What is the working of RSTP and Rapid-PVST+?

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