350-24T stack configuration 1

[wires]

I have three 350-24T switches. They appear to work correctly and accepted the latest upgrades without problem.

My question is how do you configure the three switches into a stack configuration? Here is a dump from the switch.

------------------------------------------------------------

System Characteristics


Operation Mode: Switch


MAC Address: 00-80-2D-ED-08-D2

Reset Count: 19
Last Reset Type: Software Download
Power Status: Primary
Local MDA Type: None

sysDescr: BayStack 350-24T HW:RevL FW:V1.48 SW:v4.3.0.4 ISVN:2
sysObjectID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.45.3.30.2
sysUpTime: 10:51:22
sysServices: 3
sysContact: [ ]
sysName: [ ]
sysLocation: [ ]

------------------------------------------------------------

As you can see at the top it says "Operation Mode: Switch". My guess is that it should say "Operation Mode: Stack". I can find no place to change this setting.

Do you need a MDA in each unit? If so do all the MDAs work for this purpose?

One other question. In the advertising literature on these switches it mentioned a web interface. If I enter the IP address into a web browser I get nothing. What gives?

TIA

 

[whiskeytrain]

You can't set the 350-24T's in a stack. The 350-24T is Nortels replacement for the old 350F/T/FHD line of switches. The 350-24T is a basically a crippled 450. It has no slot in the back for the ST-1 stack module. (If I remember correctly, the 350 circuit board also has the edge connector for the ST-1 removed.) The code path for the 350-24T and 450 must be the same. I have not seen the console config for a 350, but I suspect the what you see is 450 code that shows features you can't get to on the "new" 350.

As for HTTP access, have not tried. If the book says it can, make sure that you have the correct IP range and subnet mask on both the switch and the PC you are using.
Ex. switch: 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
PC: 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0
Hope this helps

 

[anthonyanderberg]

I can confirm that the 350s and 450s are identical except that the 350s don't have the stacking hardware. They run the same code image which is why you see references to features that don't exist in the 350 hardware. Of course you could link them together using the front panels and let spanning tree disable one of the links, but that's not really a stack.

350s are a good choice for people that don't want/need to pay for stacking hardware they won't use. We have a rich fiber infrastructure and have chosen to uplink each workgroup switch directly, which works well.

Unless its brand new, as far as I know the 350/450 family has never had a web interface.

BTW: Our Nortel rep said the 350 family is coming end-of-life, we're looking at the 425 family to replace them.

 

[netmanrick]

Stack is a misleading term. You can "stack" 350-24T using a x-over cable from port 24 on 1 switch to port 1 on another
switch.
BS450's are "stacked" using the mda adapter that's installed in the rear slot and the adapter cables.

BS470 have a built-in mda's,so "stacking" is easier.

Rick Harris
SC Dept of Motor Vehicles
Network Operations

 

[whiskeytrain]

I agree that stack can be a misleading term. In the Nortel world, the operation mode listing of "stack" in cli would refer to the ST-1 MDA's connected together in the back of the device(s). If the ST-1 is not connected to another switch, or is absent, the switch will show operation mode "switch"

 

[wires]

To me a "stack" refers to making a single logical unit from multiple physical devices. I am used to the way the Baystack 250 series hubs work and had hoped the 350 switches worked the same way. Not to be. The 350 has a bunch of missing components at the left rear of the main circuit board. That would be the "missing" ST-1 electronics...

The web interface question came from page three of this document:

http://a1712.g.akamai.net/7/1712/51...2/bstk/switches/collateral/ds_switches350.pdf

I assumed since the document was from 1999 that the "Available in future software agent release." had happened (but apparently not).

The 350 switches are EOL. I picked up three in excellent condition from a single vendor on eBay for $285 delivered. If I had done a bit more research I might have been able to get three 450-24T with ST1 for about $100 more. Then I would be looking for the cables...

With the switches connected I noticed that the network activity LEDs on devices connected to my network flashed every 2 seconds. Here is a tcpdump of the activity:

23:02:11.800000 0:80:2d:ed:8:d3 > 1:80:c2:0:0:0 802.1d I (s=0,r=0,C) len=42
0000 0000 8000 0080 2ded 08d3 0000 0000
8000 0080 2ded 08d3 8001 0000 1400 0200
0f00 0000 0000 0000 0000
23:02:13.840000 0:80:2d:ed:8:d3 > 1:80:c2:0:0:0 802.1d I (s=0,r=0,C) len=42
0000 0000 8000 0080 2ded 08d3 0000 0000
8000 0080 2ded 08d3 8001 0000 1400 0200
0f00 0000 0000 0000 0000
23:02:15.880000 0:80:2d:ed:8:d3 > 1:80:c2:0:0:0 802.1d I (s=0,r=0,C) len=42
0000 0000 8000 0080 2ded 08d3 0000 0000
8000 0080 2ded 08d3 8001 0000 1400 0200
0f00 0000 0000 0000 0000
23:02:17.910000 0:80:2d:ed:8:d3 > 1:80:c2:0:0:0 802.1d I (s=0,r=0,C) len=42
0000 0000 8000 0080 2ded 08d3 0000 0000
8000 0080 2ded 08d3 8001 0000 1400 0200
0f00 0000 0000 0000 0000


The switch with the lowest ip address as a MAC address of 00-80-2D-ED-08-D2 which is one less than the source of 0:80:2d:ed:8:d3 in the dump. The destinations are 1:80:c2:0:0:0 , 1:0:81:0:1:1 and 1:0:81:0:1:0. Any ideas of what this is?

Does it make any difference which ports crossover cables are inserted in when connecting multiple switches?

 

[jimbopalmer]

802.1d is spanning tree, I would guess these are BPDU (Bridge Protocol Data Unit) packets making sure spanning tree is still working.

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