C3500 Input errors on fast Ethernet ports 2

[CHM1]

Hi,
Installing many C3524 or C3548, i have input errors on fast Ethernet ports; ports concerned are essentially those connected on 10 Mbps NICs (they appear autoDuplex (half) autoSpeed (10 Mbps) on the "sh int" command); these NICs are 3COM 3C509.
Sometimes i have the same problem with DiGITAL NIC 21143 which are 10/100 cards.
The input errors are essentially "Runts".
I heard about a problem with CISCO C3500 and 3COM cards (auto-negociate not compatible ?).
Has anybody experienced the problem ? Solution ? Bypass ?
The solution which consists in fixing the speed and duplex on every port is not satisfactory : if you upgrade the PC with a 10/100 card you need to change the config of the switch.

Thanks

 

[CaRKiLLa]

Is the workstation permanatly connected to this port at all times? They are not on a laptop that moves around to different ports? If that will be the only workstation using that port try fixing the port to stay at half duplex and 10mb speed. I had a workstations that were using 10/100 3-Com cards that were having the same problem. Setting the speed in the switch and in the nic setup on the workstation fixed the issue. Even if you don't want to turn off auto in the switch I would at least turn it off at the workstation to see if this helps. Let me know if it works for you or if you have any other questions.

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

...this is why people invest in network management - coz auto-neogotiation is bad and they need to set zillions of port speed and duplex settings manually...

 

[CHM1]

To Carkilla...
Thanks.
I tried to fix speed and duplex but it doesn't resolve my problem : the 3COm card is not a 10/100 card but an old 3C509 (life warranty !) only 10 Mbps.
Counterwise, when changing the 3COm 3C509 card (10 Mbps) on 2 small NT servers with Intel PRO100B (10/100 Mbps)it works fine.
I think there's a problem with autonegotation or signal level incompatibility with old 3COM cards, but i have no probes to test this (it's laboratory tools !).

I'm very disapointed CISCO doésn't respond to this problem !

With the first C3524s we installed, we had already an "electrical problem" : with some old cards or hubs all even ports on the switch did not work but odd ports worked very well : there was a polarity invert on transmit or receive pairs; CISCO took several monthes to respond and finally change the C3524s (RMA) !!!

 

[AidanEnos]

Cisco will tell you EVERYTIME that autinegotiation is "hokey at best". It's for someone who is too lazy to program and optomize their network, they want simple plug `n play and don't care to put in the extra effort.

You need to set the port speeds at BOTH sides, and make sure you have your protocols properly installed on your PC otherwise you'll get errors on the port.

In addition, runts can be the result of bad cabling, or you may want to increase the size of your ethernet input port buffers.

 

[dihu]

we use 2924/3524/4000/5000 and 6000 switches and we have the same problem
now i look on website

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/473/46.html

Troubleshooting Cisco Catalyst Switches to Network Interface Card (NIC) Compatibility Issues


there we found the workarounds for this problem

hope it will help you too
dihu