What is the RSTP port cost for a 10 Gbps link?

The RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) port cost is derived from the speed of the link. In the context of RSTP, the port costs are defined such that faster connections have lower costs, which helps the protocol in determining the best path to the root bridge and managing switching loop prevention more efficiently.

For a 10 Gbps link, the port cost is set at 2,000. This cost is derived based on a specific formula detailed in the IEEE 802.1D standard, which essentially provides various port costs for different speeds. Since the 10 Gbps speed is much higher than common Ethernet speeds, it is assigned a lower cost compared to slower links.

In this case, selecting the cost of 2,000 for a 10 Gbps link ensures optimal path selection in the spanning tree, allowing for proper and efficient traffic flow management. It indicates that the switch will favor this faster link when determining the lowest-cost path to the root bridge, enhancing the overall performance of the network.