System information
Spanning Tree Commands
4-125
• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
RSTP supports connections to either STP or RSTP nodes by monitoring the 
incoming protocol messages and dynamically adjusting the type of protocol 
messages the RSTP node transmits, as described below:
- STP Mode – If the switch receives an 802.1D BPDU after a port’s migration 
delay timer expires, the switch assumes it is connected to an 802.1D bridge 
and starts using only 802.1D BPDUs. 
- RSTP Mode – If RSTP is using 802.1D BPDUs on a port and receives an 
RSTP BPDU after the migration delay expires, RSTP restarts the migration 
delay timer and begins using RSTP BPDUs on that port.Example 
The following example configures the switch to use Rapid Spanning Tree:
spanning-tree forward-time
This command configures the spanning tree bridge forward time globally for this 
switch. Use the no form to restore the default.
Syntax 
spanning-tree forward-time seconds
no spanning-tree forward-time
seconds - Time in seconds. (Range: 4 - 30 seconds)
The minimum value is the higher of 4 or [(max-age / 2) + 1]. 
Default Setting 
15 seconds
Command Mode 
Global Configuration
Command Usage 
This command sets the maximum time (in seconds) the root device will wait 
before changing states (i.e., discarding to learning to forwarding). This delay is 
required because every device must receive information about topology 
changes before it starts to forward frames. In addition, each port needs time to 
listen for conflicting information that would make it return to the discarding 
state; otherwise, temporary data loops might result.
Console(config)#spanning-tree mode rstp
Console(config)#










