Refer to the exhibit.

At the end of an RSTP election process, which access layer switch port will assume the
discarding role?

A.
Switch3, port fa0/1

B.
Switch3, port fa0/12

C.
Switch4, port fa0/11

D.
Switch4, port fa0/2

E.
Switch3, port Gi0/1

F.
Switch3, port Gi0/2

Explanation:
In this question, we only care about the Access Layer switches (Switch3 & 4). Switch 3 has a
lower bridge ID than Switch 4 (because the MAC of Switch3 is smaller than that of Switch4)
so both ports of Switch3 will be in forwarding state. The alternative port will surely belong to
Switch4.

Switch4 will need to block one of its ports to avoid a bridging loop between the two switches.
But how does Switch4 select its blocked port? Well, the answer is based on the BPDUs it
receives from Switch3. A BPDU is superior to another if it has:
1. A lower Root Bridge ID
2. A lower path cost to the Root
3. A lower Sending Bridge ID
4. A lower Sending Port ID
These four parameters are examined in order. In this specific case, all the BPDUs sent by
Switch3 have the same Root Bridge ID, the same path cost to the Root and the same
Sending Bridge ID. The only parameter left to select the best one is the Sending Port ID
(Port ID = port priority + port index). In this case the port priorities are equal because they
use the default value, so Switch4 will compare port index values, which are unique to each
port on the switch, and because Fa0/12 is inferior to Fa0/1, Switch4 will select the port
connected with Fa0/1 (of Switch3) as its root port and block the other port -> Port fa0/11 of
Switch4 will be blocked (discarding role).