thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

Routing & Switching · Foundational

Designated Port (DP)

The port on each segment that offers the lowest cost path to the root and forwards toward that segment.

Definition

There is one designated port per link. All ports on the root bridge are designated. If two switches tie on cost, the lower bridge ID wins the designated role.

Example

show spanning-tree shows 'Desg FWD'.

Exam tip

Every segment has exactly one designated port; the other end is a root, alternate or backup port.

Related terms