Reference Guide

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) | 759
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Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
This chapter contains the following major sections:
• Protocol Overview
• Configuring Rapid Spanning Tree
• Configuring Interfaces for Layer 2 Mode
• Enabling Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol Globally
Protocol Overview
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is a Layer 2 protocol—specified by IEEE 802.1w—that is
essentially the same as Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) but provides faster convergence and interoperability
with switches configured with STP and MSTP.
Dell Networking OS supports three other variations of Spanning Tree, as shown in Table 43-1.
Configuring Rapid Spanning Tree
Configuring Rapid Spanning Tree is a two-step process:
1. Configure interfaces for Layer 2. See page 48.
2. Enable Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol. See page 49.
Related Configuration Tasks
• Adding and Removing Interfaces
Table 43-1. Dell Networking OS Supported Spanning Tree Protocols
Dell Networking Term IEEE Specification
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) 802.1d
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
(RSTP)
802.1w
Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol
(MSTP)
802.1s
Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus
(PVST+)
Third Party