Which RSTP port role receives a superior BPDU from another switch?

The port role that receives a superior Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) from another switch is the Alternate role. In Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), an Alternate port is essentially a backup path to the root bridge, providing redundancy in the network. When a switch receives a superior BPDU, which indicates a better path to the root bridge than the one it is currently using, the port can transition to the designated role to take advantage of the new information.

This is significant because RSTP improves convergence times and optimizes network topology changes. The Alternate port is not the primary connection to the root bridge but is capable of transitioning to a forwarding state if the primary connection fails or becomes less optimal.

The other port roles, such as Designated, Backup, and Root, serve different purposes in the topology and do not specifically represent a port that is prepared to take over in response to receiving a superior BPDU. The Designated port is responsible for forwarding frames towards the root bridge for a specific segment, the Backup port functions as a secondary connection to the same network segment as another port, and the Root port is the interface that has the best path to the root bridge on a switch. Each role plays a distinct function in maintaining the