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Networks and Switching > Spanning Tree Protocol > Flashcards

Spanning Tree Protocol Flashcards

1
Q

What is network redundancy?

A

The inclusion of extra components that are not strictly necessary to functioning, in case of failure of other components.

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2
Q

Why is network redundancy important?

A

It provides fault tolerance, reducing downtime and ensuring network availability.

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3
Q

What are some problems caused by Layer 2 redundancy?

A

Broadcast storms, MAC address instability, and unicast duplication.

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4
Q

What is a broadcast storm?

A

A network event where frames are broadcast endlessly between switches, consuming bandwidth and causing network congestion.

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5
Q

How does a broadcast storm occur?

A

When there are multiple paths between switches without any loop prevention mechanism.

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6
Q

What is MAC address instability?

A

When the MAC address table constantly updates with incorrect information due to redundant paths.

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7
Q

What is unicast duplication?

A

When the same unicast frame is received multiple times by the destination due to redundant paths.

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8
Q

What is Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)?

A

A protocol that prevents loops in a network by creating a loop-free logical topology.

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9
Q

How does STP prevent loops?

A

By blocking redundant paths and only allowing one active path between any two network devices.

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10
Q

What is a root bridge in STP?

A

The central reference switch in an STP topology, elected based on the lowest bridge ID.

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11
Q

What is the Bridge ID (BID) in STP?

A

A unique identifier for each switch, consisting of a priority value and a MAC address.

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12
Q

How is the root bridge selected in STP?

A

The switch with the lowest Bridge ID is elected as the root bridge.

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13
Q

What are the steps in the STP process?

A

Elect the root bridge, elect root ports, elect designated ports and non-designated ports.

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14
Q

What is a root port in STP?

A

A port on a non-root bridge with the lowest path cost to the root bridge.

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15
Q

What is a designated port in STP?

A

The port on a switch that is selected to forward traffic for a specific network segment towards the root bridge.

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16
Q

What is a non-designated port in STP?

A

A port that is blocked and does not forward traffic to prevent loops.

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17
Q

What are the port states in STP?

A

Blocking, Listening, Learning, Forwarding, and Disabled.

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18
Q

What is the Blocking state in STP?

A

A state where the port does not forward frames but can receive and send BPDUs.

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19
Q

What is the Listening state in STP?

A

A state where a switch is preparing to participate in the spanning tree protocol by receiving and processing bridge protocol data units.

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20
Q

What is the Learning state in STP?

A

A state where the port learns MAC addresses and populates the MAC table but does not forward frames.

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21
Q

What is the Forwarding state in STP?

A

A state where the port forwards frames and updates the MAC table.

22
Q

What is the Disabled state in STP?

A

A state where the port does not participate in frame forwarding or STP.

23
Q

What is the purpose of BPDUs in STP?

A

Bridge Protocol Data Units are used to exchange information and maintain the STP topology.

24
Q

What is Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)?

A

An enhanced version of STP that provides faster convergence and introduces new port roles.

25
Q

What is the difference between STP and RSTP?

A

RSTP has faster convergence and defines new port roles such as alternate and backup ports.

26
Q

What are the port roles in RSTP?

A

Root port, Designated port, Alternate port, Backup port and Disabled port.

27
Q

What is an Alternate port in RSTP?

A

A port that provides an alternate path to the root bridge in case the primary path fails.

28
Q

What is a Backup port in RSTP?

A

A port that provides a backup path on the same switch in case the designated port fails.

29
Q

What is the purpose of PortFast in STP/RSTP?

A

To allow edge ports connected to end devices to bypass the listening and learning states and transition directly to the forwarding state.

30
Q

What is BPDU Guard?

A

A feature that disables a port if it receives a BPDU, used in conjunction with PortFast to prevent loops.

31
Q

What is Per-VLAN Spanning Tree (PVST+)?

A

A Cisco proprietary protocol that runs a separate instance of STP for each VLAN.

32
Q

What is the advantage of using PVST+?

A

It allows load balancing by enabling different VLANs to use different paths through the network.

33
Q

What is the Extended System ID in PVST+?

A

A field that includes the VLAN ID in the Bridge ID, ensuring unique Bridge IDs for each VLAN.

34
Q

What is the purpose of load balancing in PVST+?

A

To distribute traffic across multiple paths, optimizing network resources.

35
Q

What is Rapid PVST+?

A

A Cisco proprietary protocol that provides rapid convergence for each VLAN by running a separate instance of RSTP for each VLAN.

36
Q

What is Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)?

A

An IEEE standard protocol that maps multiple VLANs into a single spanning tree instance to reduce the number of STP instances.

37
Q

What are the benefits of MSTP?

A

Reduces CPU and memory usage on switches by limiting the number of spanning tree instances.

38
Q

What is the function of the Root Guard feature?

A

Prevents a port from becoming a root port, protecting the network from external switches becoming the root bridge.

39
Q

What is the Loop Guard feature?

A

Prevents a port from transitioning to the forwarding state if BPDUs are not received, avoiding loops in case of unidirectional link failures.

40
Q

What is the impact of a link failure in an STP network?

A

STP recalculates the topology and unblocks necessary ports to maintain connectivity.

41
Q

What is the Path Cost in STP?

A

A value assigned to each port based on the link speed, used to determine the best path to the root bridge.

42
Q

What are the default path costs for common link speeds in STP?

A

Ethernet: 100, Fast Ethernet: 19, Gigabit Ethernet: 4, 10 Gigabit Ethernet: 2.

43
Q

What is the difference between STP and MSTP in terms of VLAN handling?

A

STP runs a single instance for the entire network, while MSTP can map multiple VLANs into a single spanning tree instance.

44
Q

How do you verify STP configuration on a switch?

A

Using commands like ‘show spanning-tree’ to display the current STP status and port roles.

45
Q

What is STP convergence?

A

The process of transitioning ports to their final states, ensuring a loop-free topology.

46
Q

Why is it important to manage multiple concurrent spanning trees?

A

To optimize network performance and resource utilization by allowing different spanning tree instances for different VLANs.

47
Q

How does the Extended System ID affect bridge priority values?

A

It reduces the available bits for bridge priority, making them multiples of 4096.

48
Q

What is the impact of STP on network performance?

A

STP prevents loops, but excessive blocking of ports can limit available paths and affect performance.

49
Q

What is the purpose of the Spanning Tree Algorithm (STA)?

A

To calculate the best path to the root bridge and determine which ports to block to prevent loops.

50
Q

How does a switch detect topology changes in STP?

A

By receiving and processing BPDUs, which contain information about the network topology.

Networks and Switching (8 decks)

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