Differences between STP and RSTP

The following table outlines the main differences between Rapid STP (802.1w) and the legacy STP(802.1d):

STP (802.1d)	Rapid STP (802.1w)
In stable topology only the root sends BPDU and relayed by others.	In stable topology all bridges generate BPDU every Hello (2 sec), used as “keepalives” mechanism.
Port states
Disabled Blocking Listening Learning Forwarding Broken (The switch has detected a configuration or an operational problem on a port that can have major effects. The port discards packets as long as the problem continues to exist.)	Discarding (replaces disabled, blocking and listening). Learning Forwarding
To avoid flapping, it takes 3 seconds for a port to migrate from one protocol to another (STP / RSTP) in a mixed segment.
Port roles
Root (Forwarding) Designated (Forwarding) Non-Designated (Blocking)	Root (Forwarding) Designated (Forwarding) Alternate(Discarding) Backup (Discarding)
Additional configuration to make an end node port a port fast (in case a BPDU is received).	– An edge port (end node port) is an integrated Link type which depends on the duplex : Point-to-point for full duplex & shared for half duplex).
Topology changes and convergence
Use timers for convergence (advertised by the root): Hello(2 sec) Max Age(20 sec = 10 missed hellos) Forward delay timer (15 sec)	– Introduce proposal and agreement process for synchronization (< 1 sec).- Hello, Max Age and Forward delay timer used only for backward compatibility with standard STP
	Only RSTP port receiving STP (802.1d) messages will behaves as standard STP.
Slow transition (50sec): Blocking (20s) =>Listening (15s) =>Learning (15s) =>Forwarding	Faster transition on point-to-point and edge ports only:Less states. – No learning state, doesn’t wait to be informed by others, instead, actively looks for possible failure by RLQ (Request Link Query) a feedback mechanism.
Use only 2 bits from the flag octet: Bit 7 : Topology Change Acknowledgment. Bit 0 : Topology Change	Use other 6 bits of the flag octet (BPDU type 2/version 2): Bit 1 : Proposal Bit 2, 3 : Port role Bit 4 : Learning Bit 5 : Forwarding Bit 6 : Agreement Bit 0, 7 : TCA & TCN for backward compatibility
The bridge that discover a change in the network inform the root, that in turns informs all others by sending BPDU with TCA bit set and instruct them to clear their DB entries after “short timer” (~Forward delay) expire.	TC is flooded through the network, every bridge generate TC (Topology change) and inform its neighbors when it is aware of a topology change and immediately delete old DB entries.
If a non-root bridge doesn’t receive Hello for 10*Hello (advertised from the root), start claiming the root role by generating its own Hello.	Wait for 3*Hello on a root port (advertised from the root) before deciding to act.
Wait until TC reach the root + short timer (~Forward delay) expires, then flash all root DB entries	Delete immediately local DB except MAC of the port receiving the topology changes (proposal)