Table of Contents One of the challenges of network switching is to avoid loops in the network topology. Loops can cause problems such as broadcast storms, multiple frame copies, and MAC address table instability. To prevent loops, switches use a protocol called Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). STP creates a logical tree structure of the network by blocking some of the redundant links between switches. STP also detects changes in the network topology and adjusts the tree accordingly. STP has some limitations, such as slow convergence time, low bandwidth utilization, and lack of load balancing. A new protocol called Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) was developed in order to overcome these limitations.RSTP protocolis an enhancement of STP that provides faster and more efficient network switching. RSTP stands for Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol. It is an enhanced version of the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) that enhances the performance of the spanning tree. Similar to STP, the RSTP protocol can generate a single spanning tree (also known as instance 0). As a result, it is not equipped to consider VLANs in its management of redundant paths. The enhancements in the performance of RSTP typically make it a better choice than STP in environments that do not involve VLANs. The 802.1w standard is recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as the standard for Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol. RSTP complies with a strict set of guidelines that allows switches to determine the optimal method for forwarding network traffic without any unnecessary redundancy. When it is turned on for a network, the spanning tree algorithm will make all of the necessary decisions automatically about the configuration of the spanning tree. In Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol, the topmost bridge in the network is designated as the Root bridge. Its primary responsibility is to send network topology information to other switches within the network. This plays a critical role in the case of hardware malfunctions or any changes in topology. The optimal alternative routes are established without any delay. RSTP protocol defines four port roles. These are: RSTP assigns different port states to each port on a bridge, depending on its role and status in the network topology. The port states in RSTP are: Note:While the learning state is utilized in Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol, its duration is comparatively short compared to STP. One of the key benefits of using the RSTP over STP is that it reduces the convergence time. In case of any changes in network topology, STP displays convergence time somewhere between 40-50 seconds. In a modern networking environment, there is a high demand for enhanced speed, with a 40-50 seconds latency typically considered unacceptable. In contrast, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol decreases the time required for convergence, typically to a range of 5 to 10 seconds. Hence, it’s a better option than STP. Here are some other benefits of RSTP Protocol – Here are the disadvantages of Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol – It’s important to consider these disadvantages alongside the benefits of Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol when evaluating its suitability for a particular network environment. The main difference is that RSTP is faster and more efficient than STP, as it can switch to an alternate path without waiting for the network to converge. RSTP is faster than STP because it does not depend on forwarding delay timers. It allows seamless port transitions from discarding to forwarding states, thereby proving advantageous in a dynamic network environment where switches frequently change their roles. RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) is an open standard that defines a network protocol for preventing loops in a bridged LAN. RSTP is defined in IEEE 802.1w and is compatible with legacy STP devices. RSTP stands for rapid spanning tree protocol, a faster version of STP.MSTP stands for multiple spanning tree protocol. It is a modern networking protocol that serves to combine Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) into Instances. MSTP is designed to be compatible with both the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol. RSTP protocolprovides fast and reliable network switching by preventing loops in a network of switches. It can handle multiple topology changes simultaneously and reduce the convergence time from tens of seconds (in STP) to sub-seconds (in RSTP). Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol is compatible with STP and can interoperate with legacy switches that use STP. You can join CCNA Training Course to learn Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol and STP in detail.Introduction
What is RSTP?
How does RSTP work?
RSTP Port Roles
Port States in RSTP
STP State (802.1d) RSTP State (802.1w) Blocking Discarding Listening Discarding Learning Learning forwarding Forwarding Disabled Discarding Advantages of RSTP
Disadvantages of RSTP
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 – What is the difference between STP and RSTP?
Q2 – Why is RSTP faster than STP?
Q3 – Is RSTP an open standard?
Q4 – What is RSTP or MSTP?
Conclusion
FAQs
RSTP - Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol Explained - PyNet Labs? ›
STP, RSTP, and
What is it? Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP: IEEE 802.1w) is a network protocol that is an advancement over Spanning Tree Protocol (STP: IEEE802. 1D) that promotes high availability and “loop-free” topology within Ethernet networks.
Is RSTP better than STP? ›Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) Rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) is as its name suggests, a faster transition to a port-forwarding state. Unlike STP, which has five switchport states, RSTP has only three: discarding, learning, and forwarding.
What are the disadvantages of RSTP protocol? ›One of the drawbacks of RSTP is that it is not compatible with older versions of STP, such as 802.1d or PVST (per-VLAN spanning tree). This means that if you have a mixed network with switches that support different spanning tree types, you need to configure them carefully to avoid inconsistencies and loops.
What are the basics of STP and RSTP? ›STP has five port states: blocking, listening, learning, forwarding, and disabled. We can use these states to prevent loops by blocking certain ports and transitioning them to the forwarding state after a certain period. In contrast, RSTP has only three port states: discarding, learning, and forwarding.
What is the difference between HTTP and RSTP? ›While HTTP is stateless, RTSP has a state; an identifier is used when needed to track concurrent sessions. Like HTTP, RTSP uses TCP to maintain an end-to-end connection and, while most RTSP control messages are sent by the client to the server, some commands travel in the other direction (i.e. from server to client).
How does TCN work in RSTP? ›TCNs are injected into the network by a non-root switch and propagated to the root. Upon receipt of the TCN, the root switch will set a Topology Change flag in its normal BPDUs. This flag is propagated to all other switches to instruct them to rapidly age out their forwarding table entries.
What is the difference between alternate and backup in RSTP? ›Alternate port—Acts as the backup port for a root port. When the root port is blocked, the alternate port takes over. Backup port—Acts as the backup port of a designated port. When the designated port is invalid, the backup port becomes the new designated port.
How many switches can you have in RSTP? ›The maximum allowed network diameter for the RSTP protocol is 40 switches.
When should I disable RSTP? ›It is recommended that RSTP be enabled on all ports. RSTP may be disabled at the port level. Disabling RSTP on a port removes the port from any STP processing including any STP guard configuration. Disabling RSTP on a port is not recommended unless the client device connected to the port is incompatible with STP.
What layer does RSTP work on? ›
RSTP Basics
The Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is a Layer 2 network protocol that works to ensure a loop-free topology in a switched Ethernet environment.
The convergence time in RSTP is almost instant because of the detailed information that non root bridge switches provide in the BPDUs about its own connected nodes.
What are the advantages of RSTP over STP? ›In conclusion, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is generally preferred over Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) due to its enhanced features, faster convergence times, improved network performance, and support for VLANs.
What are the valid ports in RSTP? ›There are only three port states left in RSTP that correspond to the three possible operational states. The 802.1D disabled, blocking, and listening states are merged into a unique 802.1w discarding state.
What is the advantage of RSTP over STP? ›RSTP offers numerous advantages that make it a more reliable network protocol than STP. These advantages include improved scalability, reduced latency, loop prevention and faster convergence. Additionally, RSTP supports VLANs and mixed-speed networks, making it an ideal choice for large enterprise networks.
What is the difference between RSTP and rapid PVST? ›RSTP is a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) evolution that is designed to provide faster convergence times in response to changes in network topology. PVST is a Cisco proprietary protocol that creates a separate spanning tree for each VLAN using STP.
Which is better MSTP or RSTP? ›However, MSTP requires more configuration overhead and is more susceptible to dropped traffic due to misconfiguration. Rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) requires less configuration overhead, provides faster convergence on point-to- point links, and speedier failure recovery with predetermined, alternative paths.
Is RSTP compatible with STP? ›The IEEE standard of RSTP is 802.1w. There are many similarities between STP and RSTP, RSTP is backward-compatible with STP.