GS305E Setup VLAN's from behind the switch

The PC used to configure the switch permanently resides downstream of the switch, on a VLAN, and MGMT VLAN that is not 1. It becomes a chicken & egg problem where you will be constantly locked out and forced to reset the switch as you try all the different combinations. I tried googling for solutions and the closest was the topic GS305E Trunking tagged and untagged VLAN's. It was very helpful. However my issue is slightly different and I wanted to share what worked. It was... a process. 

Step 1: Configure your upstream switch with a trunked port for all the VLAN's you intend to have traffic through the GS305E switch. In the case of a Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 24 for example, it absolutely 100% requires a new trunked port... even though you already likely have a main trunk tagged and setup for VLAN's. 

Step 2: Manually configure your PC's IP address to be in the 192.168.0.x subnet. Plug your PC into any port on the switch. Which port you choose to plug into does not matter for initial configuration, they are all configured identically. Use a browser and go to 192.168.0.139 and login with the password: password. There is no username so this switch is not appropriate for a multi-admin environment. 

Step 3: Change your password. This is mandatory and you will be presented with a screen to do so immediately upon first successful login. 

Step 4: You will immediately see the main system settings page (home). Disable DHCP mode and provide the device with a static IP within the subnet range where it will permanently reside. Also provide the subnet gateway IP (Subnet DHCP server). Apply the changes, no reboot necessary, the browser will timeout because the switch will now be found at that new static IP. You will likely want to change your PC's IP again to be within the new subnet range. 

Step 5: Go to VLAN > 801.q > Advanced: and enable the advanced option. 

Step 6: Advanced > VLAN Configuration: add your VLANs. 

You cannot remove VLAN 1 it is hardcoded and also used as the management VLAN by default. DO NOT attempt to change the management VLAN yet if your management VLAN is not 1. You will do that at the very end almost as the last step. This is why a lot of people (meeeee) have locked up their GS305E during initial configuration by changing that too soon, don't do that, don't touch it, live with management VLAN as 1 until you have everything working. 

Step 7: Advanced > VLAN Membership: this is where you setup your trunked port and tags. Now is when you decide which port you want to be the trunk port. I use port 1 but port 5 is also a logical choice. Whatever port you decide to make the trunk the default VLAN 1 should be untagged and the rest of your VLAN's under it tagged.

Step 8: Advanced > Port PVID: the trunk port should always remain as PVID 1. Change the PVID's to your VLAN ID's. A note of caution if you have a different management VLAN than 1. This will lock you out and force you to plug into a fall back port. If your management VLAN is 1 then you should be finished. 

Step 9: Advanced > VLAN Configuration: If you need to change your management VLAN now is the time, the last final step. If you would have attempted to change your management VLAN at any time during the prior processes you would have been locked out and likely forced to hardware reset the switch to defaults. 

This is what worked for me. I spent about a day trying to get it all to work and honestly I believe the one thing that prevented me from succeeding most of the time was not setting up that port as a trunk port on the Edgeswitch. It shouldn't be needed like that but it definitely does not work if that trunk checkbox isn't checked. 

All feedback, corrections, comments, will be gladly accepted. Just please try to keep them constructive.