Summary
Now that you have completed this chapter, you should a have a firm understanding of the following concepts:
  • The Spanning-Tree algorithm and protocol is a bridge-to-bridge link management protocol providing path redundancy while preventing loops in the network.
  • The Spanning-Tree algorithm feature of Spanning-Tree Protocol performs topology recalculations.
  • The Spanning-Tree Protocol communicates topology changes from switch to switch with BPDUs.
  • BPDUs are not forwarded, but receipt of a topology change BPDU may cause a switch to generate and forward a topology change BPDU.
  • When Spanning-Tree Protocol is enabled, a port is always in one of the following states:
  • Blocking
  • Listening
  • Learning
  • Forwarding
  • Disabled
  • Spanning-Tree PortFast causes a Spanning-Tree port to enter the forwarding state immediately, bypassing the listening and learning states.
  • You can use PortFast on switch ports connected to a single workstation or server to allow those devices to connect to the network immediately without waiting for Spanning Tree to converge.
  • UplinkFast provides fast convergence after a Spanning-Tree topology change and achieves load balancing between redundant links using uplink groups.
  • BackboneFast is initiated when a root port or blocked port on a switch receives inferior BPDUs from its designated bridge.