Any Layer-2 switched network with two or more switches providing redundant paths between endpoints will have to deal with the problem of bridging loops. It was for this reason that Spanning-Tree was developed, as a protocol to mitigate this problem. In this course you will be exposed to two flavors of Spanning-Tree and various ways to implement them...802.1w RSTP and 802.1s MSTP. Cisco IOS-based switches will be utilized to demonstrate the operation of RSTP as well as MSTP. You will learn how to verify the proper operation of these protocols using Cisco IOS-based commands, as well as various ways to manipulate their operation. From the deterministic placement of the STP Root Bridge to manual load-balancing of VLAN traffic you will become proficient with the Cisco implementation of RSTP and MSTP.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
* Verify Spanning-Tree Root Bridge Operation
* View Spanning-Tree Port State and Port Role on any given switch interface
* Understand Spanning-Tree timers and usage
* Explain the RSTP Topology Change process
* Modify the RSTP and MSTP for deterministic Root Bridge placement
* Modify RSTP and MSTP to accomplish per-VLAN or per-Instance load-balancing
Recommended Knowledge or Skills Prior to Taking this Course
* Experience with Cisco IOS command-line interface
* Familiarity with Ethernet frame structure
* Understanding of MAC Address-Table usage
