Efficient Utilization of Bandwidth, Loop Avoidance, and Minimal CPU Impact

B.

The most suitable technology for the design of a large Layer 2 domain that contains hundreds of switches and VLANs is the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP).

RSTP is a layer 2 protocol that provides rapid convergence times and better performance than the original Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) by reducing the number of states a port goes through when transitioning from one state to another.

RSTP works by electing a root bridge and determining the shortest path to the root bridge for each switch in the network. It then blocks all other redundant paths that could cause loops in the network, allowing only one active path. RSTP can also detect link failures and convergence times are significantly faster compared to STP, typically 2-3 seconds.

MST (Multiple Spanning Tree) is also a valid option for large Layer 2 domains. It allows the creation of multiple spanning trees on a single switch or across multiple switches, reducing the number of spanning tree instances required and minimizing the number of blocked ports.

PVST+ (Per-VLAN Spanning Tree) and Rapid PVST+ are Cisco proprietary implementations of the STP protocol. They are useful for small to medium-sized networks where multiple VLANs are present. However, they are not recommended for large Layer 2 domains as they have a higher impact on switch CPU and memory and slower convergence times compared to RSTP.

Therefore, the best option to efficiently utilize the bandwidth of all links, avoid Layer 2 loops and cause minimal impact on switch CPU and memory for a large Layer 2 domain with hundreds of switches and VLANs is RSTP.