Switching Protocols (STP, RSTP, MSTP)

In a network with multiple redundant paths, what issue does Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) primarily prevent?

Which device is elected as the root bridge in STP?

In Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), what is the role of the alternate port?

What is the primary advantage of RSTP over STP?

How does Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) differ from STP and RSTP?

In a network using MSTP, what does each MST instance map to?

What does the BPDU Guard feature do in STP?

Which protocol should be enabled to allow devices to quickly detect a topology change in the network?

In an STP topology, what is the purpose of the designated port?

What is the maximum age timer in STP?

Which RSTP port role corresponds to the STP blocking state?

In MSTP, what is the function of the Internal Spanning Tree (IST)?

How does STP elect the root bridge in a network?

Which STP port state involves a port sending and receiving BPDUs but not forwarding user traffic?

What is the default priority value for a switch in STP?

In RSTP, which port state is responsible for detecting topology changes and quickly moving to the forwarding state?

How does the cost of a path influence the selection of the root port in STP?

In MSTP, what ensures backward compatibility with STP and RSTP?

Which command is used to enable RSTP on a Cisco switch?

In STP, what mechanism is used to prevent temporary loops during the convergence process?

What is the function of the Hello timer in STP?

Which RSTP feature allows a switch to immediately transition a port to the forwarding state if it is configured as an edge port?

In an MSTP configuration, what ensures that different VLANs can have different spanning tree topologies?

Which STP state is responsible for learning MAC addresses and preparing the port for data forwarding?

How does the Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) version indicate the type of spanning tree protocol being used?

What happens to a port in STP if a superior BPDU is received?

In RSTP, what is the function of the backup port?

Which feature in STP helps in reducing the time it takes for a port to transition from the blocking state to the forwarding state after a topology change?

What role does the forward delay timer play in the STP process?

In a scenario where multiple switches claim to be the root bridge, which criterion is used first to resolve this conflict in STP?

Which MSTP feature allows it to be scalable in large networks by reducing the number of BPDUs?

What is the purpose of the TCN (Topology Change Notification) in STP?

Which command is used to display the current STP status and configuration on a Cisco switch?

What role does the edge port play in RSTP?

In MSTP, what mechanism ensures the consistency of the VLAN-to-instance mapping across all switches in an MST region?

Which command enables MSTP on a Cisco switch?

How does the root guard feature enhance the stability of an STP topology?

What action does an MSTP-enabled switch take if it detects an inconsistency in the MST configuration?

Which port role in RSTP is primarily responsible for providing an alternative path to the root bridge?

In STP, what is the primary purpose of the priority vector in the root bridge election process?

What does the Loop Guard feature in STP prevent?

How is the priority value of a switch modified in STP to influence root bridge election?

In a network with both RSTP and MSTP, which BPDU version will be used for compatibility?

What is the purpose of the spanning-tree portfast command in STP?

Which protocol feature in MSTP provides backward compatibility with PVST+?

In STP, what action does a switch take when it receives a BPDU with a lower bridge ID than its own?

What is the main benefit of the MST (Multiple Spanning Tree) protocol in large enterprise networks?

How often are BPDUs sent by default in STP?

What command is used to verify the MST configuration on a Cisco switch?

Which RSTP feature allows for immediate transition to the forwarding state without the usual delay?