Need help with ProCurve switches

[Asha'man X]

Hi everyone

I need some help with some HP ProCurve switches our school has. We just bought 2 new 2610 48 port models, with 2 mini-gbic's for fiber. We hooked up one in our second computer lab to replace old switches that were there.

There is a fiber link between that computer room and the server room. Previously, it was running at 100MB, and it terminated into our 2900 ProCurve. We bought new mini-gbics to upgrade this link to 1Gb, but we hit a snag it seems.

After we plugged in everything, the link light does not come on at either switch. We have verified that the switches are compatible with the mini-gbic modules, the firmware has been upgraded on them and everything is firmly in place. Traffic flows from the computer room to the server room, but we can't monitor anything because the port does not show as being "up" Therefore we don't know the speed etc...

Does anyone know of anything that can be done to get the ports to show that they are actually up? Could it be that our fiber cable is too low spec to run a Gb connection? Funny thing is, if we leave the 100Mb mini-gbic in on the 2900, and have the switch connected to the old Cnet that was in the computer room before, everything works ok.

Thanks everyone, any suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[dabouncer]

Get onto the web interface and check the interfaces.

 

[quovadis]

Simplest answer I can give - the last two ports on those switches usually are shared with the gbics - so first check is to ensure the last two (probably 47 and 48) do not have cables plugged in. Also ensure that the fibre you have installed is multimode - if memory serves me correctly those gbics are multimode.

The switch with default settings will show a link if the above is checked and correct.

 

[Asha'man X]

Thanks for the replies guys. We got it sorted out this morning. It seems that we may have accidentally installed the gbic in the wrong port on the switch, hence the link going to some other switch in the school. I think my colleague installed it in the bottom right port instead of bottom left. If we are not mistaken, it caused the other switch it was linked to to freeze solid.

The GB link is now up between server room and the second computer room, and we are all happy. Network maps done by Spiceworks or ProCurve Manager should be a lot better now.

I have to admit though, one thing is still puzzling me. Somehow, despite the link being incorrect, our second computer room still got traffic. I don't know if there's a secondary uplink cable somewhere or what, but I found that weird.

I guess that's the joys of inheriting an undocumented network with absolute nothing to guide you except people's spotty memories.