Cisco 3524XL & Dell 3024 Switches

[jamesch]

We have a Cisco 3548XL, 3524XL, and a couple of Dell 3024 switches. We are tiring to install the GBIC devices. These GBIC are 1000baseSX fiber modules. When installed on the two Cisco switches it works fine, when installed on the two Dell switches it works fine, BUT when linked from the Cisco to the Dell switches, this does not work. The Cisco switch does not show any port lights, on the Dell switch, the port shows a green light, and the port is up. I have swapped between the two Cisco switches, and both do the same. I have swapped out the GBIC devices, and used different Fiber cables, nada! The GBIC devices are Cisco brand 1000BaseSX (Ws-G5484). Dell’s switch documentation says that their switches can work with any GBIC manufacture! The Dell switch sets the port to 1000 Full Duplex, and I have set the Cisco to match the Duplex speeds and have changed the Duplex settings (can’t change the speed), but still does not work. I also turned off Flow control on both ends, this still does not work. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Nothing special as far as configurations, VLan, Qos, etc…

 

[gaveeve]

Are they both running the same encapsulation? Cisco has ISL and that is proprietary. Try dot1q.(I'm assuming this is a trunked port)
Switch(config-if)#switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
Not all cisco switches run both protocols

 

[jamesch]

I have tried this and it still did not work. this is the config of both GBIC slots. Gi0/1 goes to the other Cisco switch and Gi0/2 goes to the Dell switch. Gi0/2 is the problem.

Name: Gi0/1
Switchport: Enabled
Administrative mode: static access
Operational Mode: static access
Administrative Trunking Encapsulation: isl
Operational Trunking Encapsulation: isl
Negotiation of Trunking: Disabled
Access Mode VLAN: 1 (default)
Trunking Native Mode VLAN: 1 (default)
Trunking VLANs Enabled: NONE
Pruning VLANs Enabled: NONE
Priority for untagged frames: 0
Override vlan tag priority: FALSE
Voice VLAN: none
Appliance trust: none
Self Loopback: No

Name: Gi0/2
Switchport: Enabled
Administrative mode: trunk
Operational Mode: trunk
Administrative Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Operational Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Negotiation of Trunking: Disabled
Access Mode VLAN: 0 ((Inactive))
Trunking Native Mode VLAN: 1 (default)
Trunking VLANs Enabled: 1,1002-1005
Trunking VLANs Active: 1
Pruning VLANs Enabled: 2-1001
Priority for untagged frames: 1
Override vlan tag priority: FALSE
Voice VLAN: none
Appliance trust: none
Self Loopback: No

 

[gaveeve]

Have you tried running dot1q on the connection between the two Cisco switches? I would be curious what the config is then.

 

[jamesch]

No. the connection between the Cisco GBIC's work fine with no problem, it's the Cisco to the Dell switch. Gi 0/2 goes to the dell switch, and Gi 0/1 goes to the Cisco. Also I have tried from the other 3548 switch to the dell and now with the 3524 switch and both do not work?

 

[gaveeve]

I understand that the cisco to cisco connection is working and that is using ISL. The config you posted has a difference between the ISL and dot1q connection. I was wondering about vlan 1 differences. What would a successful dot1q connection look like on the cisco to cisco connection? Then you could work from there.

 

[jamesch]

I have set both Cisco to Cisco GBIC slots to use dot1q, and this works, but still does not work from Cisco to Dell.

Really need help. We plan to move into our 2nd floor by the end of the month, and the Dell switches will be used there, If we can get the GBIC's working we will have to use 100mb copper. I just wanted to have a good Gigabit fiber backbone, for all 3 floors. My boss still lives in the dark ages and he thinks a 10mb is plenty for about 150 users on the network,that do internet research, and documents,and more, go figure!

Please, any help would be great.

 

[gaveeve]

Can you post the configs of the dot1q GBIC between the two Cisco.

 

[jamesch]

Sure, give me a min.

 

[jamesch]

Cisco 3548 switch Config, on GBIC

sh interface gi 0/2
GigabitEthernet0/2 is up, line protocol is up
Hardware is Gigabit Ethernet, address is 0006.53b3.6332 (bia 0006.53b3.6332)
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit, DLY 10 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
Keepalive not set
Auto-duplex (Full), 1000Mb/s, media type is SX
output flow-control is on, input flow-control is on
ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
Last input 00:00:31, output 00:00:00, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue 0/40, 0 drops; input queue 0/75, 0 drops
5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
325306 packets input, 41402508 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 189284 broadcasts, 0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
0 watchdog, 189180 multicast, 0 pause input
0 watchdog, 189180 multicast, 0 pause input
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 4 interface resets
0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 pause output
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
sh interface gi0/2 switchport
Name: Gi0/2
Switchport: Enabled
Administrative mode: trunk
Operational Mode: trunk
Administrative Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Operational Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Negotiation of Trunking: Disabled
Access Mode VLAN: 0 ((Inactive))
Trunking Native Mode VLAN: 1 (default)
Trunking VLANs Enabled: 1,1002-1005
Trunking VLANs Active: 1
Pruning VLANs Enabled: 2-1001

Priority for untagged frames: 1
Override vlan tag priority: FALSE
Voice VLAN: none
Appliance trust: none
Self Loopback: No
Cisco 3524 switch Config, GBIC

GigabitEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up
Hardware is Gigabit Ethernet, address is 0006.53e7.c219 (bia 0006.53e7.c219)
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit, DLY 10 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
Keepalive not set
Full-duplex, 1000Mb/s, media type is SX
output flow-control is on, input flow-control is on
ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
Last input 00:00:00, output 00:00:45, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue 0/40, 0 drops; input queue 0/75, 0 drops
5 minute input rate 2000 bits/sec, 4 packets/sec
5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
578756 packets input, 76565046 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 393963 broadcasts, 0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
0 watchdog, 195021 multicast, 0 pause input
0 watchdog, 195021 multicast, 0 pause input
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 3 interface resets
0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 pause output
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
sh interface gi0/1 switchport
Name: Gi0/1
Switchport: Enabled
Administrative mode: trunk
Operational Mode: trunk
Administrative Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Operational Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Negotiation of Trunking: Disabled
Access Mode VLAN: 0 ((Inactive))
Trunking Native Mode VLAN: 1 (default)
Trunking VLANs Enabled: 1,1002-1005
Trunking VLANs Active: 1
Pruning VLANs Enabled: 2-1001

Priority for untagged frames: 1
Override vlan tag priority: FALSE
Voice VLAN: none
Appliance trust: none
Self Loopback: No

 

[johnpet]

have you had other experiences with Dell switches? I intend to use Cisco at the mdf and then 'save money' by using Dell at the other buildings on campus. However, i'm hearing about problems.

 

[jamesch]

Johnpet, if you can squeeze the extra money, I would go with ALL one brand, in your case Cisco. My boss just ordered a Dell Giga-bit switch (5024) and is going to use it for the main switch and connect all the other switches into it. I personally think that sucks, Dell is not up to par when it comes against Cisco, especially in layer 3 on switches, I tried to get him to buy the Cisco 3550-12G, but he is a penny pincher to begin with, and didn’t what to go with it because of price, not looking at what to can do for our needs.

I have been disappointed with the outcome and performance with dell, about ¾ of the features will not work with Dell, one is the spanning tree feature, this will not work between the Dell and Cisco switches.

There is a cost you will pay when you save money, for one reason, it’s why the dell switches are cheaper.

 

[jpm121]

james raises a good point -- with one vendor you also eliminate any potential finger pointing between Dell & Cisco (which is certain to happen the second the support guy hears you mention another vendor's name).

 

[jamesch]

One more thing, Dell has a support forum, that users can post problems with any Dell products, just like Tek Tips. Check it out for yourself, and look at the forum on the Dell switches, and you will find alot of people are having communication problems between Dell and Cisco, also they have Dell Tech guys that will try to help somewhat without getting to involved, and onw thing is Dell does not cert. the Cisco GBIC modules, only Nortell GBIC modules. Check out the forum, and see yourself... Jamesch

 

[ADB100]

I have had problems connecting Cisco switches to Extreme switches and had to disable auto-negotiation - not Speed/Duplex Auto-Negotiation but Gigabit Ethernet negotiation:

Interface gigabitethernet 0/0
no negotiation auto

Quote '.......IEEE 802.1z Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps)autonegotiation protocol.'

Andy