10 vs 100 meg question 3

[shannanl]

We have about 15 clients on a 10meg hub that is fed by a fiber optic 10 Base-FL feed. On the other end we have some 100 meg switches and other clients and servers. We are wanting to upgrade the 10 meg area to 100 meg. The first thing we did was to replace the 10 meg hub with a 10/100 3Com switch. Suddenly the printers (HP and Lexmark Laser Printers) lose connection and the clients can't print to them. Why did this happen? The switch showed the printers at 10 meg while the clients are running 100 megs (they all have 10/100 NICS). Any suggestions on what happened? We moved the 10meg hub back with no problems. The clients never seemed to have a problem with the 100 megs, just the printers.

Thanks,

Shannan

 

[IPKONFIG]

Shannan,

You need to verify that the printers can run at the speed and duplex settings that your setting the switch ports too (Or the switchports default too) Speed settings should not play a part in a port not connecting or not. Duplex is usually the problem in most cases.

"I can picture a world without war. A world without hate. A world without fear. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."
- Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts

 

[shannanl]

We looked at one of the printers and it was set to 1/2 duplex and I know the nics in the comupters are set to full duplex. You think this might be the problem?

Thanks,

Shannan

 

[IPKONFIG]

Yep, try changing the duplex settings on the switch to match those of the printers. See what happens.

"I can picture a world without war. A world without hate. A world without fear. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."
- Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts

 

[shannanl]

I dont think we can change the settings on the switch. At least if we can I cant figure out how. It is a 3Com Superstack 2, Dual speed hub 500. Would it be better to change the settings on the printers?

Thanks,

Shannan

 

[bcastner]

Leave the printers on the hub, and daisy-chain it to the switch with the workstations at 100.

 

[shannanl]

Sounds like a plan. We will try that tomorrow.

Thanks,

Shannan

 

[IPKONFIG]

I disagree. Why keep another point of failure if it's not needed in the network. Fix the problem right, don't half-ass it. If you can't configure the switch, then see if the printers can be changed. I'm sorry, but I've never configured a 3Com switch either so I can't offer advice. By the way, this is strictly my opinion only.

"I can picture a world without war. A world without hate. A world without fear. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."
- Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts

 

[shannanl]

Ok, I agree on the keep it as simple as you can method. I will try the printers first and if I can't configure them, maybe a new switch is in order.

Thanks,

Shannan

 

[bcastner]

IPKONFIG,

He has 10-base T adapters in the printer, and a non-configurable switch.

Now explain how to fix this.

 

[shannanl]

No, the printer adapters are 100 meg. Right now they are running 100 meg, half duplex. The switch is non-configurable.

Shannan

 

[bcastner]

Member jimbopalmer has a FAQ with some good thoughts to consider in this instance: faq586-4186

 

[jimbopalmer]

I have some Lexmark Optra R Laser printers that THINK they can do 100 meg, but in practice can't, if I limit them to 10 meg, they work fine. If these are the printers you are fighting, keep them at 10

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[bcastner]

jimbopalmer,

My thoughts were along your lines. Hence the notion to isolate them to a hub that forced 10 Half.

 

[shannanl]

Jimbopalmer,

That is one of the printers that is having problems. The others are HP 4050Ns. The H.P.s should run fine because we have several running on the 100 meg area right now. The Lexmark is the other one that is having problems. It sounds like a switch or hub running at 10 meg with the printers on it and everything else running at 100 meg is the best solution.

Thanks for all the input guys,

Shannan

 

[Nettekkie1010]

The superstack II 500 is a HUB not a switch and it is only autosensing. What this means in your case is you have a problem; some older, and some newer, print servers won't properly autonegotiate on a port capable of 10/100 operation. We had this same issue when we installed new switches on our campus; the printers simply wouldn't work after the new switches were installed. We ended up setting the ports on the switch for 10/half and they took right off. You, however, can't do that with this equipment.

 

[Nettekkie1010]

In which case I agree with bcastner: daisy chain the 10Mb/s hub to the Superstack II and keep the printers on the 10M hub.

 

[shannanl]

Nettekkie1010,

You are correct. This is a hub. I am not sure why I thought it was a switch but it is clearly a hub. I think what we will do is the same thing we did in our Radiology department. They have a printer in Radiology that ultra sound machines and CT machines print to. The Nic in the printer is auto sensing and will sense 100 meg however the printer will not function reliably at 100 meg. We just bought a small 10 meg hub and ran the printer into that and then into the 10/100 meg switch the department uses. That worked fine. I imagine we will do that with the other department. I am glad you replied because I do not want a hub in that application and I would probably have never noticed that the superstack was a hub. Thanks for getting my eyes and brain working. ha ha

Shannan

 

[TimRegester]

The DS 500 is often decribed as a switching hub. This is because there is indeed a switch or bridge between the 10BASE-T backplane of the hub and the 100BASE-T backplane. This could be the source of the confusion.

You can check the 3com knowledgebase fot details on management of the hub it should be web manageable but you will need the IP address of it to configure it.

Good luck

Tim