Turbocharge Your IT Journey: Ace the Cisco Certified Network Pro Test 2026 – Network Ninja Style!

In Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), the state that indicates a port able to forward frames is the Forwarding state. When a port is in the Forwarding state, it actively participates in frame transmission and can send and receive data packets. This is essential for the efficient operation of a network, as it allows communication between devices connected to the switch.

The Forwarding state is one of the key states in RSTP, reflecting that the port is fully operational and ready to handle traffic. This contrasts with other states like Discarding, Learning, and Blocking. In the Discarding state, a port does not forward frames at all, effectively preventing loops. The Learning state allows a port to gather MAC address information while not yet forwarding frames. The Blocking state prevents network loops by not allowing frames to be forwarded through that port, effectively keeping network operations safe.

Understanding the port states in RSTP is crucial for ensuring that redundant paths in a network are appropriately managed to both maintain connectivity and prevent broadcast storms or loops.