What device is responsible for sending BPDUs in STP?

The correct answer is the Root Bridge, as it is the central point in the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) topology. In STP, the Root Bridge is the reference point for all path calculations and is responsible for maintaining the loop-free logical topology of a network.

BPDUs (Bridge Protocol Data Units) are crucial for STP as they contain information regarding the network topology, including the Root Bridge ID, path costs, and the state of ports. The Root Bridge sends out BPDUs periodically to provide this vital information to the other switches in the network. These switches use the information from the BPDUs to make decisions about how to forward traffic and to determine which ports are in forwarding or blocking state.

While all switches in the network participate in STP and play a role in forwarding BPDUs, only the Root Bridge initiates the sending of BPDUs, while other switches respond to those messages. This distinction highlights the importance of the Root Bridge in the overall functionality of STP, making it a crucial component for successful network operation.