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On a NETGEAR fully managed switch, rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP, 802.1w) is globally enabled by default.

You can enable Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP, 802.1s), which can support multiple spanning tree (MST) instances. Each MST instance consists of an ID, a priority value, and a VLAN ID. (We also refer to an MST instance as an MST ID.) You can assign one or more interfaces to an MST instance.

Note the following requirements for MST IDs:

  • An MST ID must be in the range from 1 to 4094.
  • The bridge priority value for an MST ID is a multiple of 4096. When switches or bridges are running STP, each is assigned a priority. After exchanging BPDUs, the switch with the lowest priority value becomes the root bridge. The bridge priority is a multiple of  4096. If you specify a priority that is not a multiple of 4096, the priority is automatically set to the next lowest priority that is a multiple of 4096. For example, if you set the priority to any value between 0 and 4095, the switch automatically sets the value to 0. The range is from 0 to 61440. The default is 32768.
  • A VLAN that you add to an MST ID must already be defined. You can add more than one VLAN to an MST ID.

To enable MSTP, configure MST instances 1 and 2, configure interface 1/0/3 as the MST port for MST instance 1, and configure interface 1/0/4 as the MST port for MST instance 2:

  1. Launch a web browser and enter the IP address of the switch in the address field of your web browser.
    The login page displays.
  2. Click the Main UI Login button.
    The main UI login page displays in a new tab.
  3. Enter admin as the user name and enter one of the following passwords:
  • Enter your local device password.
    The first time that you log in, no password is required. However, you then must specify
    a local device password to use each subsequent time that you log in.
  • If you are managing the switch through the Engage controller, enter the site password
    for the Engage site to which the switch is onboarded.
  • If, in addition to the main UI, you are also managing the switch through the Insight Cloud Portal
    or Insight app, enter the Insight network password for the Insight network to which the switch is added.
  1. Click the Login button.
    The System Information page displays.
  2. Select Switching > STP > Basic > STP Configuration.
  3. Select the Spanning Tree Admin Mode Enable radio button.
    By default, this radio button is selected.
  4. Select the Force Protocol Version IEEE 802.1s radio button.
  5. Click the Apply button.
    Your settings are saved.
  6. Select Switching > STP > Advanced > MST Configuration.
  7. Configure MST instance 1 with VLAN 2 and VLAN 3:
    1. In the MST ID field, type 1.
    2. In the Priority field, type 4096.
    3. From the VLAN ID menu, select 2.
    4. Click the Add button.
      Your settings are saved.
    5. Select the check box for MST ID 1.
    6. From the VLAN ID menu, select 3.
    7. Click the Apply button.
      Your settings are saved..
  8. Configure MST instance 2 with VLAN 12 and VLAN 13:
    1. In the MST ID field, type 2.
    2. In the Priority field, type 4096.
    3. From the VLAN ID menu, select 12.
    4. Click the Add button.
      Your settings are saved.
    5. Select the check box for MST ID 2.
    6. From the VLAN ID menu, select 13.
    7. Click the Apply button.
      Your settings are saved.
  9. Select Switching > STP > Advanced > MST Port Configuration.
  10. Configure interface 1/0/3 as the MST port for MST ID 1:
    1. From the Select MST menu, select 1.
    2. Select the Interface 1/0/3 check box.
    3. In the Port Priority field, typer 128.
    4. In the Port Path Cost field, type 0.
    5. Click the Apply button.
      Your settings are saved.
  11. Configure interface 1/0/4 as the MST port for MST ID 2:
    1. From the Select MST menu, select 2.
    2. Select the Interface 1/0/4 check box.
    3. In the Port Priority field, typer 128.
    4. In the Port Path Cost field, type 0.
    5. Click the Apply button.
      Your settings are saved.

For information about using CLI command to configure MSTP, see How do I configure Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP, 802.1s) using CLI commands on a fully managed switch?

To go to the STP landing page for fully managed switches, see What is Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and how does it work with a fully managed switch?

Last Updated:07/25/2025 | Article ID: 21960

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