Root Bridge

If all the Switches in your Local Area Network (LAN) are configured with the default Switch
Priority (32,768), the Switch MAC address will become the decisive factor in electing the Root
Bridge (Switch).The Bridge (Switch) with the lowest MAC Adress is then elected as Root Bridge
(Switch).

Root Port

Once the Root Bridge (Switch) is elected, every other Switch in the network must select a single
port on it to reach the Root Bridge (Switch). The single selected port on a Switch with least Path
Cost to the Root Bridge is called the Root Port. Root Bridge (Switch) will never have a Root Port.
Root Bridge (Switch) is at the Root and therefore there is no need of a Root Port to reach the
root.

Criteria of selecting a root port

1. Lowest Path Cost 2. Lowest MAC Address 3. Lowest Port Priority 4. Lowest Port
No

Cost Value for Different Bandwidths

Link Speed Cost Value

10 Gbps 2
1 Gbps 4
100 Mbps 19
10 Mbps 100

Designated Port
A Root Port is the port on the Switch with the least cost from the "Switch" to the Root Bridge. A
Designated Port is the port on a "Local Area Network (LAN) segment" with the least cost to the
root bridge. The other end of a Designated Port is called as Non Designated Port (marked as
NDP), if it is NOT a Root Port. Non Designated Port will be always in Blocking State, to avoid Layer
2 Switching loops.