Practice Test Geeks(STP) Spanning Tree Protocol Practice Test
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Advanced STP Flashcards

6 cards from real STP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Advanced STP flashcards as text

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

    Answer: Cisco protocol running a separate STP instance for each VLAN, allowing per-VLAN load balancing

    PVST+ creates a unique spanning tree for each VLAN, enabling different root bridges and traffic paths per VLAN.

  2. What is root guard in STP?

    Answer: A feature preventing a port from becoming a root port, protecting the root bridge election

    Root guard ensures that specific ports cannot be elected as root ports, preventing external switches from becoming the root bridge.

  3. What is loop guard in STP?

    Answer: A feature that prevents alternate or root ports from transitioning to designated/forwarding if BPDUs stop arriving

    Loop guard prevents a port from erroneously moving to forwarding state when it stops receiving BPDUs, which could create a loop.

  4. How does STP handle unidirectional link failures?

    Answer: Through features like UDLD (Unidirectional Link Detection) and loop guard

    Unidirectional link failures are particularly dangerous for STP because one switch may not receive BPDUs while the other sends them normally.

  5. What is the recommended practice for STP root bridge placement?

    Answer: Place the root bridge on a high-performance core switch central to the network

    The root bridge should be a centrally located, high-performance switch to optimize traffic paths and minimize spanning tree depth.

  6. What is the purpose of STP portfast?

    Answer: To immediately transition access ports to forwarding state, skipping listening and learning

    PortFast allows access layer ports connected to end devices to begin forwarding immediately without the normal STP delay.