Module 5 Summary
Key Concepts and Highlights:
• Purpose of STP:Prevents Layer 2 loops in Ethernet networks caused by redundant physical
paths, ensuring fault tolerance and high availability.
• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP):Creates a loop-free logical Layer 2 topology by electing a root
bridge, blocking redundant paths, and designating ports for forwarding.
• STP Operations:
o Root Bridge Election: Switches exchange BPDUs to determine the root bridge based on
the lowest Bridge ID (BID).
o Port Designation: Selects root ports and designated ports for optimal path selection.
o Blocking Ports: Prevents loops by disabling non-essential paths.
• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP):Improves convergence times with faster port states
and quicker topology updates compared to STP.
• Port States and Roles:Includes blocking, listening/learning/forwarding (RSTP), root ports,
designated ports, and alternate (blocked) ports.
• PVST+ and Rapid PVST+:
o PVST+ supports per-VLAN spanning trees for VLAN-specific loop prevention.
o Rapid PVST+ enhances RSTP convergence per VLAN for scalability.
• STP Evolution:
o IEEE Standards (802.1D, 802.1w) provide improved loop prevention and convergence.
o Layer 3 Routing preferred for scalability and faster convergence in complex networks.
Most Important Highlights:
• Redundant Paths and Layer 2 Loops:
o Redundant paths can lead to physical and logical Layer 2 loops causing network
instability.
o STP prevents loops by establishing a loop-free topology through root bridge election and
port designation.
• STP Functionality:
o Root port selection based on lowest path cost to the root bridge.
o Designated ports forward data using the most efficient path within a broadcast domain.
• PVST+ and RSTP Benefits:PVST+ allows separate spanning trees for each VLAN, while Rapid
PVST+ offers enhanced RSTP convergence per VLAN.
• Network Evolution:
o Ethernet LANs evolved to complex hierarchical designs with enhanced STP adaptations
like RSTP and MSTP.
o Layer 3 routing used for redundancy and loop-free topologies in large networks.
Task Command
Enable STP spanning-tree mode <mode>
Set STP Bridge Priority spanning-tree vlan <vlan-id> priority <priority>
Enable PortFast on Access Ports spanning-tree portfast
Enable BPDU Guard spanning-tree portfast bpduguard
Configure Root Guard spanning-tree guard root
spanning-tree vlan <vlan-id> hello-time <seconds>
Configure STP Timers (Hello, Max Age, Forward spanning-tree vlan <vlan-id> max-age <seconds>
Delay)
spanning-tree vlan <vlan-id> forward-time
<seconds>
show spanning-tree
View STP Information show spanning-tree interface <interface>
show spanning-tree vlan <vlan-id>
Enable Rapid STP (RSTP) spanning-tree mode rapid-pvst
