- A
Rapid PVST+ uses a proposal/agreement handshake to achieve rapid convergence.
Correct because the proposal/agreement mechanism allows ports to transition to forwarding quickly without relying on timers.
- B
Rapid PVST+ runs a separate instance of STP for each VLAN.
Correct because Rapid PVST+ is per-VLAN, providing independent spanning trees for each VLAN.
- C
Rapid PVST+ requires the UplinkFast feature to be enabled for fast uplink convergence.
Why wrong: Incorrect because UplinkFast is a legacy Cisco feature for 802.1D; RSTP inherently provides fast convergence.
- D
In Rapid PVST+, the root bridge is elected based on the lowest MAC address only.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the root bridge is elected based on the lowest bridge priority (which includes a configurable priority value and the MAC address as a tiebreaker).
- E
Rapid PVST+ supports only two port roles: designated and root.
Why wrong: Incorrect because RSTP defines additional port roles: alternate and backup, in addition to designated and root.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that Rapid PVST+ runs a separate instance of STP for each VLAN, enabling per-VLAN load balancing and faster convergence through its unique proposal/agreement handshake. This per-VLAN instance is the core distinction from standard RSTP, as Rapid PVST+ extends RSTP’s rapid transition mechanism—where a port immediately moves to forwarding after receiving an agreement from the downstream switch—to every VLAN independently, allowing different VLANs to use different root bridges and port states. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Cisco’s proprietary enhancement improves upon 802.1w, often appearing in questions that contrast Rapid PVST+ with MST or classic STP; a common trap is confusing the proposal/agreement handshake with the older 802.1D convergence or assuming UplinkFast is still required. Remember the memory tip: “Per-VLAN, per-handshake—Rapid PVST+ makes each VLAN’s convergence separate and fast.”
CCNP Spanning Tree Protocol Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of spanning tree protocol. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which two statements about Rapid PVST+ are true? (Choose two.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Rapid PVST+ uses a proposal/agreement handshake to achieve rapid convergence.
Rapid PVST+ is an enhancement of the original 802.1D STP that provides faster convergence by using a proposal/agreement handshake. It runs a separate instance of RSTP for each VLAN, enabling per-VLAN load balancing. The UplinkFast feature is not needed because RSTP already handles uplink convergence quickly. The root bridge is elected based on bridge priority, not MAC address alone. Port roles include alternate and backup, not just designated and root.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Rapid PVST+ uses a proposal/agreement handshake to achieve rapid convergence.
Why this is correct
Correct because the proposal/agreement mechanism allows ports to transition to forwarding quickly without relying on timers.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- ✓
Rapid PVST+ runs a separate instance of STP for each VLAN.
- ✗
Rapid PVST+ requires the UplinkFast feature to be enabled for fast uplink convergence.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because UplinkFast is a legacy Cisco feature for 802.1D; RSTP inherently provides fast convergence.
- ✗
In Rapid PVST+, the root bridge is elected based on the lowest MAC address only.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the root bridge is elected based on the lowest bridge priority (which includes a configurable priority value and the MAC address as a tiebreaker).
- ✗
Rapid PVST+ supports only two port roles: designated and root.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because RSTP defines additional port roles: alternate and backup, in addition to designated and root.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 350-401 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
Spanning Tree Protocol — This question tests Spanning Tree Protocol — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rapid PVST+ uses a proposal/agreement handshake to achieve rapid convergence. — Rapid PVST+ is an enhancement of the original 802.1D STP that provides faster convergence by using a proposal/agreement handshake. It runs a separate instance of RSTP for each VLAN, enabling per-VLAN load balancing. The UplinkFast feature is not needed because RSTP already handles uplink convergence quickly. The root bridge is elected based on bridge priority, not MAC address alone. Port roles include alternate and backup, not just designated and root.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 350-401 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two statements about Rapid PVST+ are true? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.Rapid PVST+ converges faster than classic STP because it uses synchronized handshakes between switches.
- B.Rapid PVST+ uses a separate BPDU version for each VLAN to maintain per-VLAN spanning-tree instances.
- ✓ C.In Rapid PVST+, an alternate port provides a backup path to the root bridge and is in a discarding state when the root port is operational.
- D.Rapid PVST+ requires the use of UplinkFast and BackboneFast features to achieve sub-second convergence.
- E.Rapid PVST+ supports only one spanning-tree instance per VLAN, but it can load-balance traffic across multiple VLANs.
Why A: Rapid PVST+ is the Cisco implementation of RSTP per VLAN. It provides faster convergence than classic STP and uses port roles (root, designated, alternate, backup) and port states (discarding, learning, forwarding). The alternate port provides a backup to the root port, and the backup port provides a backup to the designated port. Rapid PVST+ does not use a separate BPDU version for each VLAN; it uses the same RSTP BPDU format. It does not require UplinkFast or BackboneFast since those features are integrated into RSTP.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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