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Commonly confused · Routing & Switching

STP vs RSTP: What's the Difference?

Both prevent Layer 2 loops by blocking redundant paths. Classic STP relies on timers and can take 30 to 50 seconds to converge, while RSTP uses a proposal and agreement handshake and new port roles to converge in a few seconds or less.

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP, 802.1D)

Full definition
vs

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP, 802.1w)

Full definition
Spanning Tree ProtocolRapid Spanning Tree Protocol
StandardIEEE 802.1DIEEE 802.1w (later folded into 802.1D-2004)
Convergence30-50 secondsTypically a few seconds or less
Port statesBlocking, Listening, Learning, Forwarding, DisabledDiscarding, Learning, Forwarding
Port rolesRoot, Designated, Blocked (non-designated)Root, Designated, Alternate, Backup
MechanismTimer-based (forward delay, max age)Proposal/agreement handshake
Edge portsPortFast is a Cisco add-onEdge port is part of the standard
Cisco per-VLAN versionPVST+Rapid PVST+
Remember it

Rapid STP collapses five states into three and seconds into a blink.

Exam tip

Expect state and role questions: RSTP's Alternate port backs up the root port and its Backup port backs up a designated port. Root bridge election (lowest bridge ID) applies to both.

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