Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) by Arash Deljoo

Name: Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) by Arash Deljoo
Rating: 4.9 (19 reviews)

A Complete Guide to Spanning Tree Stability, Optimization, and Troubleshooting

Created byArash Deljoo

Last updated 12/2025

English

What you'll learn

Understand STP fundamentals, including root bridge election, port roles, BPDU flow, and loop prevention.
Analyze advanced STP operations, such as tie-breakers, alternate/backup ports, and PVST+.
Interpret STP behavior in real networks, including mode selection and BPDU processing.
Explain and tune STP convergence, including states, timers, PortFast, and interface behavior.
Configure and validate STP enhancements, such as PortFast and BPDU Guard for improved stability.
Optimize Layer 2 networks by adjusting root bridge settings, port roles, and VLAN-based STP parameters.
Configure and troubleshoot RSTP and MSTP, including roles, states, instances, and VLAN mappings.
Implement STP protection mechanisms such as Root Guard, Loop Guard, UDLD, BPDU Filter, and PortFast to ensure loop-free, resilient networks.

Course content

9 sections • 9 lectures • 12h 34m total length

STP Fundamentals , Root Bridge, Ports, and Network Stability1:30:41
1- The Need to Spanning Tree Protocol [STP] Introduction
2- The STP Root Bridge Introduction
3- The STP Root Port Role Introduction
4- The STP Designated Port Role Introduction
5- The STP Bridge ID Introduction
6- STP Bridge Priority Configuration
7- The STP Bandwidth/Cost Introduction
8- The Importance of STP Root Bridge in Active Topology

STP Advanced , Tie Breakers, AlternateBackup Ports, and PVST+1:49:28
1- The STP Tie Breakers Introductions
2- The STP Tie Breakers for Root Port Election Introductions
3- The STP Tie Breakers for Designated Port Election Introductions
4- The STP Alternate Port Introduction
5- The STP Backup Port Introduction
6- The Per VLAN STP Plus [PVST+] Introduction
7- The Per VLAN STP Plus [PVST+] Configuration
8- The Per VLAN STP Plus [PVST+] Verification

STP in Action , Root Bridge Election, BPDU Overview, and STP Modes1:24:27
1- The STP Real Scenario Introductions
2- Modifying the Root Bridge Election Introductions
3- The STP Primary Root Bridge Introductions
4- The STP Primary Root Bridge Configuration
5- The STP Secondary Root Bridge Introductions
6- The STP Secondary Root Bridge Configuration
7- The STP Bridge Protocol Data Unit [BPDU] Fields Introduction
8- The STP Standards and Models Introduction
9- The STP Modes Configuration

STP Convergence , States, Timers, and PortFast Feature1:38:43
1- The STP Convergence Introduction
2- The STP Listening State Introduction
3- The STP Learning State Introduction
4- The STP Topology Change Notification [TCN] Introduction
5- The STP Direct Topology Change Introduction
6- The STP InDirect Topology Change Introduction
7- The STP Insignificant Topology Change Introduction
8- The STP Hello Timer Introduction
9- The STP Forward Delay Timer Introduction
10- The STP Max Age Timer Introduction
11- The STP Portfast Feature Introduction
12- The STP Portfast Feature Configuration
13- The STP Portfast Feature Verification

STP PortFast & BPDU Guard , Interface Tuning and Root Bridge Recommendations56:29
1- The STP Portfast Introduction
2- The STP Portfast Configuration
3- The STP Portfast Verification
4- The STP BPDU-Guard Introduction
5- The STP BPDU-Guard Configuration
6- The STP BPDU-Guard Verification
7- The Interface Err-Disabled Status Introduction
8- The STP Interface Cost Configuration
9- The STP Interface Cost Verification
10- The STP Interface Priority Configuration
11- The STP Interface Priority Verification
12- Recommendation for Root Bridge Place in STP

STP Optimization , Adjusting Root Bridge, Port Roles, and VLAN Settings39:08
1- STP Topology Tuning Introduction
2- Root Bridge Placement Introduction
3- Modifying STP Root Port and Blocked Switch Port Locations Introduction
4- Modifying STP Port Cost Introduction
5- Modifying STP Port Priority Introduction
6- Spanning-tree vlan vlan-id priority priority Command Introduction , Configuration , Verification
7- spanning-tree vlan vlan-id root {primary | secondary} [diameter diameter] Command Introduction , Configuration , Verification
8- spanning tree [vlan vlan-id] cost cost Introduction , Configuration , Verification
9- spanning-tree [vlan vlan-id] port-priority priority Introduction , Configuration , Verification
10- show spanning-tree [vlan vlan-id] detail Introduction , Verification

RSTP Configuration, Roles, States, and STP Comparison1:14:04
1- The Traditional Spanning Tree Protocol Review
2- The Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol [RSTP] Introduction
3- The Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol [RSTP] Configuration
4- The Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol [RSTP] Verification
5- The RSTP Synchronization Introduction
6- The RSTP Roles Introduction
7- The RSTP States Introduction
8- The RSTP Link Types Introduction
9- Comparing STP and RSTP

MSTP,Instances,Configuration,VLAN Assignments,and PVST Simulation2:05:14
1- Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol Introduction
2- MST Instances (MSTIs) Introduction
3- MST Configuration Introduction
4- MST Verification Introduction
5- MST Tuning Introduction
6- Common MST Misconfigurations Introduction
7- VLAN Assignment to the IST Introduction
8- VLAN Assignment to the IST Configuration
9- Trunk Link Pruning Introduction
10- MST Region Boundary Introduction
11- PVST simulation mechanism Introduction
12- PVST simulation mechanism Configuration
13- PVST simulation check Introduction
14- PVST simulation check Configuration

STP Protection Features , Root Guard, Loop Guard, UDLD, BPDU Filter, and PortFas1:15:55
1- STP Protection Mechanisms Introduction
2- STP Root Guard Introduction
3- STP Root Guard Configuration
4- STP Root Guard Verification
5- STP Loop Guard Introduction
6- STP Loop Guard Configuration
7- STP Loop Guard Verification
8- Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD) Introduction
9- Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD) Configuration
10- Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD) Verification
11- BPDU Filter Introduction
12- BPDU Filter Configuration
13- BPDU Filter Verification
14- STP Portfast Introduction
15- STP Portfast Configuration
16- STP Portfast Verification

Requirements

Basic understanding of networking concepts (switching, VLANs, Ethernet).
Familiarity with Cisco IOS commands is helpful but not required.
A laptop or PC capable of running lab tools such as Packet Tracer, GNS3, EVE-NG, or similar.
No advanced experience needed—beginners with motivation to learn STP, RSTP, and MSTP can follow the course comfortably.

Description

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), RSTP, and MSTP are among the most critical technologies in modern enterprise switching—yet they remain some of the most misunderstood. A single STP misconfiguration can cause loops, outages, or complete network meltdown. This course is designed to give you the confidence, clarity, and hands-on knowledge needed to prevent, detect, and troubleshoot these issues like a true network professional.

Whether you're preparing for CCNA, CCNP, or working daily with Cisco switches, this course will take your Layer 2 troubleshooting skills to the next level. You’ll learn how STP selects the root bridge, how port roles and BPDUs work, how convergence happens, and how advanced features such as PortFast, BPDU Guard, Root Guard, Loop Guard, UDLD, and more protect your network from misconfigurations and failures.

Through detailed explanations, real-world scenarios, configuration walkthroughs, and troubleshooting examples, you’ll gain a practical understanding of PVST+, RSTP, and MSTP. You’ll also learn how to optimize STP performance, fine-tune VLAN-based spanning tree settings, and simulate failures to understand network behavior under stress.

By the end of this course, you will be able to confidently identify STP problems, correct misconfigurations, design stable Layer 2 environments, and protect your network from loops and instability. If you want to strengthen your switching knowledge, improve your troubleshooting speed, or advance your networking career, this is the course you’ve been looking for.

Enroll today and start mastering one of the most essential skills in enterprise networking!

Who this course is for:

Network Engineers and Technicians who manage Layer 2 networks and want deeper STP troubleshooting skills.
CCNA / CCNP candidates preparing for switching, spanning-tree, or enterprise-level exam topics.
NOC and Support Engineers responsible for diagnosing switching loops, instability, and STP-related outages.
IT Professionals transitioning into networking who need a solid understanding of STP, RSTP, and MSTP operations.
Students and beginners who know basic networking and want to learn how spanning tree works in real environments.

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) by Arash Deljoo

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

STP Fundamentals1 lecture • 1hr 31min

STP Advanced Concepts1 lecture • 1hr 49min

STP in Action1 lecture • 1hr 24min

STP Convergence1 lecture • 1hr 39min

STP PortFast & BPDU Guard1 lecture • 56min

STP Optimization1 lecture • 39min

RSTP Overview & Configuration1 lecture • 1hr 14min

MSTP Operation & Configuration1 lecture • 2hr 5min

STP Protection Features1 lecture • 1hr 16min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: