Per a recent question I recently configured both my HP (2x 2900) and Cisco (1x 3750) hardware to use MSTP for interoperability. I thought this was functional until I applied the change to the third device (HP switch 1 below) at which time the spanning tree root started flapping causing performance issues (5% packet loss) between my two HP switches. I'm not sure why.
HP Switch 1 A4 connected to Cisco 1/0/1. HP Switch 2 B2 connected to Cisco 2/0/1. HP Switch 1 A2 connected to HP Switch 2 A1. I'd prefer the Cisco stack to act as the root.
EDIT:
There is one specific line - 'spanning-tree 1 path-cost 500000' in the HP switch 2 that I didn't add and was preexisting. I'm not sure if it could have the kind of impact that I'm describing. I'm more a security and monitoring guy then networking.
EDIT 2:
I'm starting to believe the problem lies in the fact that the value for my MST 0 instance on the Cisco is still at the default 32768. I worked up a diagram: 
This is based on every show command I could find for STP.
I'll make this change after hours and see if it helps.
Cisco 3750 Config:
version 12.2
spanning-tree mode mst
spanning-tree extend system-id
spanning-tree mst configuration
name mstp
revision 1
instance 1 vlan 1, 40, 70, 100, 250
spanning-tree mst 1 priority 0
vlan internal allocation policy ascending
interface TenGigabitEthernet1/1/1
switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport mode trunk
!
interface TenGigabitEthernet2/1/1
switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport mode trunk
!
interface Vlan1
no ip address
!
interface Vlan100
ip address 192.168.100.253 255.255.255.0
!
Cisco 3750 show spanning tree:
show spanning-tree
MST0
Spanning tree enabled protocol mstp
Root ID Priority 32768
Address 0004.ea84.5f80
Cost 200000
Port 53 (TenGigabitEthernet1/1/1)
Hello Time 2 sec Max Age 20 sec Forward Delay 15 sec
Bridge ID Priority 32768 (priority 32768 sys-id-ext 0)
Address a44c.11a6.7c80
Hello Time 2 sec Max Age 20 sec Forward Delay 15 sec
Interface Role Sts Cost Prio.Nbr Type
------------------- ---- --- --------- -------- --------------------------------
Te1/1/1 Root FWD 2000 128.53 P2p
MST1
Spanning tree enabled protocol mstp
Root ID Priority 1
Address a44c.11a6.7c80
This bridge is the root
Hello Time 2 sec Max Age 20 sec Forward Delay 15 sec
Bridge ID Priority 1 (priority 0 sys-id-ext 1)
Address a44c.11a6.7c80
Hello Time 2 sec Max Age 20 sec Forward Delay 15 sec
Interface Role Sts Cost Prio.Nbr Type
------------------- ---- --- --------- -------- --------------------------------
Te1/1/1 Desg FWD 2000 128.53 P2p
Cisco 3750 show logging:
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to down
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan100, changed state to down
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to up
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan100, changed state to up
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to down
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to up
HP Switch 1:
; J9049A Configuration Editor; Created on release #T.13.71
vlan 1
name "DEFAULT_VLAN"
untagged 1-8,10,13-16,18-23,A1-A4
ip address 100.100.100.17 255.255.255.0
no untagged 9,11-12,17,24
exit
vlan 100
name "192.168.100"
untagged 9,11-12,17,24
tagged 1-8,10,13-16,18-23,A1-A4
no ip address
exit
vlan 21
name "Users_2"
tagged 1,A1-A4
no ip address
exit
vlan 40
name "Cafe"
tagged 1,4,7,A1-A4
no ip address
exit
vlan 250
name "Firewall"
tagged 1,4,7,A1-A4
no ip address
exit
vlan 70
name "DMZ"
tagged 1,4,7-8,13,A1-A4
no ip address
exit
spanning-tree
spanning-tree config-name "mstp"
spanning-tree config-revision 1
spanning-tree instance 1 vlan 1 40 70 100 250
password manager
password operator
HP Switch 1 show spanning tree:
show spanning-tree
Multiple Spanning Tree (MST) Information
STP Enabled : Yes
Force Version : MSTP-operation
IST Mapped VLANs : 2-39,41-69,71-99,101-249,251-4094
Switch MAC Address : 0021f7-126580
Switch Priority : 32768
Max Age : 20
Max Hops : 20
Forward Delay : 15
Topology Change Count : 363,490
Time Since Last Change : 14 hours
CST Root MAC Address : 0004ea-845f80
CST Root Priority : 32768
CST Root Path Cost : 200000
CST Root Port : 1
IST Regional Root MAC Address : 0021f7-126580
IST Regional Root Priority : 32768
IST Regional Root Path Cost : 0
IST Remaining Hops : 20
Root Guard Ports :
TCN Guard Ports :
BPDU Protected Ports :
BPDU Filtered Ports :
PVST Protected Ports :
PVST Filtered Ports :
| Prio | Designated Hello
Port Type | Cost rity State | Bridge Time PtP Edge
----- --------- + --------- ---- ---------- + ------------- ---- --- ----
A1 | Auto 128 Disabled |
A2 10GbE-CX4 | 2000 128 Forwarding | 0021f7-126580 2 Yes No
A3 10GbE-CX4 | Auto 128 Disabled |
A4 10GbE-SR | Auto 128 Disabled |
HP Switch 1 Logging: I removed the date / time fields since they are inaccurate (no NTP configured on these switches)
00839 stp: MSTI 1 Root changed from 0:a44c11-a67c80 to 32768:0021f7-126580
00839 stp: MSTI 1 Root changed from 32768:0021f7-126580 to 0:a44c11-a67c80
00842 stp: MSTI 1 starved for an MSTI Msg Rx on port A4 from 0:a44c11-a67c80
00839 stp: MSTI 1 Root changed from 0:a44c11-a67c80 to 32768:0021f7-126580
00839 stp: MSTI 1 Root changed from 32768:0021f7-126580 to 0:a44c11-a67c80
00839 stp: MSTI 1 Root changed from 0:a44c11-a67c80 to ...
HP Switch 2 Configuration:
; J9146A Configuration Editor; Created on release #W.14.49
vlan 1
name "DEFAULT_VLAN"
untagged 1,3-17,21-24,A1-A2,B2
ip address 100.100.100.36 255.255.255.0
no untagged 2,18-20,B1
exit
vlan 100
name "192.168.100"
untagged 2,18-20
tagged 1,3-17,21-24,A1-A2,B1-B2
no ip address
exit
vlan 21
name "Users_2"
tagged 1,A1-A2,B2
no ip address
exit
vlan 40
name "Cafe"
tagged 1,13-14,16,A1-A2,B2
no ip address
exit
vlan 250
name "Firewall"
tagged 1,13-14,16,A1-A2,B2
no ip address
exit
vlan 70
name "DMZ"
tagged 1,13-14,16,A1-A2,B2
no ip address
exit
logging 192.168.100.18
spanning-tree
spanning-tree 1 path-cost 500000
spanning-tree config-name "mstp"
spanning-tree config-revision 1
spanning-tree instance 1 vlan 1 40 70 100 250
HP Switch 2 Spanning Tree:
show spanning-tree
Multiple Spanning Tree (MST) Information
STP Enabled : Yes
Force Version : MSTP-operation
IST Mapped VLANs : 2-39,41-69,71-99,101-249,251-4094
Switch MAC Address : 0024a8-cd6000
Switch Priority : 32768
Max Age : 20
Max Hops : 20
Forward Delay : 15
Topology Change Count : 21,793
Time Since Last Change : 14 hours
CST Root MAC Address : 0004ea-845f80
CST Root Priority : 32768
CST Root Path Cost : 200000
CST Root Port : A1
IST Regional Root MAC Address : 0021f7-126580
IST Regional Root Priority : 32768
IST Regional Root Path Cost : 2000
IST Remaining Hops : 19
Root Guard Ports :
TCN Guard Ports :
BPDU Protected Ports :
BPDU Filtered Ports :
PVST Protected Ports :
PVST Filtered Ports :
| Prio | Designated Hello
Port Type | Cost rity State | Bridge Time PtP Edge
----- --------- + --------- ---- ---------- + ------------- ---- --- ----
A1 10GbE-CX4 | 2000 128 Forwarding | 0021f7-126580 2 Yes No
A2 10GbE-CX4 | Auto 128 Disabled |
B1 SFP+SR | 2000 128 Forwarding | 0024a8-cd6000 2 Yes No
B2 | Auto 128 Disabled |
HP Switch 2 Logging: I removed the date / time fields since they are inaccurate (no NTP configured on these switches)
00839 stp: CST Root changed from 32768:0021f7-126580 to 32768:0004ea-845f80
00839 stp: IST Root changed from 32768:0021f7-126580 to 32768:0024a8-cd6000
00839 stp: CST Root changed from 32768:0004ea-845f80 to 32768:0024a8-cd6000
00839 stp: CST Root changed from 32768:0024a8-cd6000 to 32768:0004ea-845f80
00839 stp: CST Root changed from 32768:0004ea-845f80 to 32768:0024a8-cd6000
00435 ports: port B1 is Blocked by STP
00839 stp: CST Root changed from 32768:0024a8-cd6000 to 32768:0021f7-126580
00839 stp: IST Root changed from 32768:0024a8-cd6000 to 32768:0021f7-126580
00839 stp: CST Root changed from 32768:0021f7-126580 to 32768:0004ea-845f80
Can you change the MST instance number to 0? I think this may be causing your issue, MST runs instance 0 by default so you have created two instances, instance 1 with the vlans you have mapped and instance 0 with all the others. judging by your Cisco config you should only need one instance:
Its strange that your root is flapping but you have only set the priority for instance 1 not 0. Move it all to instance 0 and also set the priority of MST instance 0 on the HP switches to higher than the default. Then the root will always be the 3750 as long as its on the network.
On the HP switches:
The Spanning tree path cost command was configured probably to stop HP2 from becoming the root:
From the HP Advanced Traffic management guide page 138. If you didn't add the path cost statement I would remove it and just set the bridge priority higher on the switch you want to be the root. If thats the Cisco then you are already set with my commands.
Wow.. After all the research it turns out all I was missing was setting the MST 0 instance value to a lower value than the default. Once I set it to 4096 all the show spanning tree configs started functioning as expected showing the Cisco macs as the root.
GerryEgan's solution would work in since it also would have changed the MST 0 instance to a lower value. however I'd eventually like to be able to use both 10 gig links, one for VLAN 1 and one for VLAN 100. This general setup was roughed out with that final goal in mind. I didn't include it in the question since it didn't really pertain - I was desperate for any solution.
In summary to configure this setup I used:
Cisco 3750
HP Switches