First of all ... what is STP?
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is a Layer 2 network protocol (IEEE 802.1D) designed to prevent bridging loops in Ethernet networks with redundant links. It creates a loop-free, tree-like logical topology by identifying redundant paths and blocking them, while keeping them available as backups if an active link fails.
* So why is it on in the LAN Ethernet ports by default with no configuration capability (or turning it off.)? How many customers actually run 2 or more Ethernet switches attached to it ... especially switches with STP configured? For it to be useful such switches would have to exist and have STP configured in order for it to be useful. Otherwise the gateway's STP is just banging away to nothing. Annoying traffic that is unnecessary.
Is there any way to turn it off?