Course Preview
- Duration
- 8h 22m
- Difficulty
- Professional
- Instructor
- Keith Bogart
- Videos
- 21
- Quizzes
- 12
- CPE Credits
- 11
- Published
- Oct 28, 2021
- Updated
- Nov 14, 2023
Load Balancing with the Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)
Load Balancing with Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) explains how MSTP helps maintain a loop-free Layer 2 network while improving traffic utilization across switching infrastructure. It begins by highlighting the limitations of traditional spanning tree approaches and then introduces how MSTP groups VLANs into multiple instances, each mapped to a logical spanning tree topology. Learners gain insight into how these instances enable more efficient path usage and better distribution of network traffic. The course also covers practical implementation and monitoring of MSTP on Cisco and Juniper switching platforms, along with techniques to influence root placement and optimize forwarding paths for load balancing. Additionally, it touches on interoperability scenarios, including how MSTP behaves when interacting with Cisco PVST+ environments and PVST simulation mechanisms.
Instructor
Keith Bogart
Course Instructor
Keith started his networking career as customer service representative at Cisco Systems in 1996. His desire to learn more soon led him to a position as a Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) engineer on the “Dial-Access” team, and within six months he had obtained his Dial-ISP CCIE. He later became a network consulting engineer and obtained his CCNA certification while teaching the technologies to Cisco employees during his lunch breaks. Keith was the first instructor on Cisco’s TAC Training team, where he taught a wide range of internetworking topics and later developed and taught other courses such as routing protocols, LAN switching, MPLS, 802.1x, and CCNA. After almost 17 years with Cisco, Keith joined a small startup and focused on 802.11 Wi-Fi technologies, during which time he obtained his CWNA certification. He is now very happy to be working as an instructor for Routing & Switching. Keith lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, son, and daughter. When he is not teaching Bootcamps, Keith can be found at home with his family, reading, or working in the yard.