How to manage Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP) Thru Command Line on Dell Networking PowerConnect Switches

Summary: This article explains how Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is implemented on Dell Networking PowerConnect switches thru Command Line Interface (CLI).

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Topics Covered


 

1.  Default Spanning Tree values
2.  Enabling RSTP
3.  Setting root bridge priority
4.  Enabling Portfast
5.  Verify Spanning Tree Settings


 

Default Values for Spanning Tree on PowerConnect 


 

  • enabled globally on all ports
  • RSTP mode is enabled  (Classic STP and MSTP are disabled)
  • Switch priority is set to   --  32768
  • PortFast mode set to   --  disabled


 

 

Enabling RSTP

   
 

Command

Purpose

console# configure

Enters configuration level on the switch

console(config)# spanning-tree mode RSTP

Enables spanning-tree mode RSTP globally on the switch.

console(config)# no spanning-tree mode

Disables spanning-tree globally on the switch


 

 

Setting root bridge priority


  

Command

Purpose

console# configure

Enter configuration level on the switch.

console(config)# spanning-tree priority 4096

Set switch global spanning-tree priority.  Range <0 - 61440>. (in steps of 4096)


 

 

The switch with the lowest priority value is elected as the root switch.  

 


 

Enabling Portfast


 

It is recommended to configure any edge ports, ports that go to end devices such as printers, phones, servers, workstations, to be set up as Portfast. A port in Portfast will move directly to forwarding state when the link comes up without going through listening or learning states.


 

Command

Purpose

console# configure

Enters configuration level on the switch

console(config)# interface te 1/0/1

Enter the specific physical port interface.

console(config)# spanning-tree portfast

Enables portfast on the interface.


 

 

Do not configure portfast on interfaces that attach to another switch or network device.


 

 Verify Spanning Tree Settings  


 

console# show spanning-tree

 

Spanning tree :Enabled - BPDU Flooding :Disabled - Portfast BPDU filtering :Disabled - mode :rstp
CST Regional Root:        80:00:D0:67:E5:A5:7F:C5
Regional Root Path Cost:  0
ROOT ID
              Priority        32768
              Address         D067.E5A5.7FC5
              This Switch is the Root.
              Hello Time 2 Sec Max Age 20 sec Forward Delay 15 sec TxHoldCount 6 sec

 

console# show running-config interface tengigabitethernet 1/0/1

spanning-tree portfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affected Products

PowerSwitch N2000 Series, PowerSwitch N3000 Series, PowerConnect 3524, PowerConnect 3524P, PowerConnect 3548, PowerConnect 3548P, PowerConnect 5524, PowerConnect 5524P, PowerConnect 5548, PowerConnect 5548p, PowerConnect 6224, PowerConnect 6224F , PowerConnect 6224P, PowerConnect 6248, PowerConnect 6248P, PowerConnect 7024, PowerConnect 7024F, PowerConnect 7024P, PowerConnect 7048, PowerConnect 7048P, PowerConnect 7048R, PowerConnect 8024, PowerConnect 8024F, PowerConnect 8100 Series ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000120161
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 05 Jun 2025
Version:  7
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