📖 What is Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)?
An enhancement of STP (802.1w) that provides significantly faster spanning tree convergence after a topology change, usually within milliseconds.
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Sensei Says:
"RSTP combines the STP Blocking and Listening states into a single Discarding state. It is the default on modern Cisco switches as Rapid-PVST+."
📚 Certification: Certified Network Associate (200-301)
🔑 What are the Key Concepts of Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)?
- ▸ Sub-second convergence times compared to legacy STP
- ▸ Introduction of Alternate and Backup port roles
- ▸ Simplification of port states (Discarding, Learning, Forwarding)
- ▸ Backwards compatibility with 802.1D
🎯 How does Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) appear on the 200-301 Exam?
Contrasting the port states of RSTP with legacy STP.
Configuring a switch to use Rapid-PVST+ instead of standard PVST+ for faster convergence.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What port states in legacy STP are replaced by the Discarding state in RSTP?
Blocking, Listening, and Disabled states are all merged into the Discarding state.
Does RSTP require a completely new infrastructure?
No, it is backwards compatible with standard 802.1D STP, though it will fall back to slower timers when interacting with legacy switches.
Related Terms from Certified Network Associate
Type 1 Hypervisor
Port Address Translation (PAT)
Puppet
Northbound API
Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP)
Default Static Route