SSII Switch 1000 initial setup--Throw me a bone! 1

[x53gunner]

OK, so I'm in way over my head, but I'm proud of it since I'm learning something. But damn, it's a long uphill road.
I've got a 3Com SS II Switch 1000 and a 3Com Netbuilder 222 router. I've also downloaded and printed the .pdf files for the manuals from 3Com but they're just a little advanced for me. I get about 20-25% of it but... I'll start with the Switch. I've searched the archives and came up with the following post and now have the questions:
"First of all, you have to configue the switch with an IP address. You need a serial crossover cable to connect your PCs COM port to the console port on the back of the switch and use something like HyperTerm to get to the configuration menu. There are numerous articles in this forum on the how-to."

1. I'm still looking for all the "how-to"
2. A serial "crossover" cable. That's different from the standard serial cable? How? Is that the same concept as the crossover Cat 5 cable? How do I identify one of these?
3. Why do NIC's from the computers register when pluged into the ports but not the cable modem? The cable modem will register activity via the LAN port on the router but not the switch. Tried both straight through and crossover cables out of ignorance and desperation.
4. Do I need to have/use the 100Base-TX MODULE in the back as the input from the cable modem(later the router)? I suspect not(in my very limited networking exposure).
5. Configure with an IP address? Just pick one out of the blue? Does it default automatically to one on start up?
6. What the hell do I do with the MAC address?
7. The paperwork mentions crossover cables. Do I go with straight though or crossovers from the cable modem? How about between the switch and router?

OK, now the router:
1. Once I get the switch going, I'm assuming (I know that's bad) that I plug the cable modem into the LAN port.Yes?
2. I have a cable for the RS-449 that terminates into a male DB-25 connector. Can I use a adapter labled "modem" that has the female DB-25(7 with matching pins) and an RJ-45 port to connect? Same goes with the RS-232.

OK, OK, I'm looking in the posts again. Hell with it, I'll just read them ALL.

TIA,

TJ
Melbourne FL

 

[TimRegester]

The serial cable is a null modem 9-pin to 9 pin RS232 cable. the cable the modems used to be connected to PCs with. One end plugs into the serial port on the switch one into a PC.

Follow the manual for setting up hyperterminal etc. login using the interface, depending on rev the interface may be different so follow the manual.

The IP address is one in the IP subnet on your LAN usually 192.168.x.x with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 this is the range of IP addresses the Cable modem gives out via DHCP.

The cable modem may not connect to the PCs due to the switch being VLANed. It could also be an autonegotiation issue, you need to log into the switch and set the port to auto the make sure the ethernet lan port of the cable modem is used to connect to the switch.

You use a straight rj45 for PC to switch and some routers (but not all depending on make/model) cross overs are used for switch to switch hub to hub and some routers to hub/switch.

If none of this makes any sense, no offence but get someone else to do it who does understand or get a copy of networking for dummies.

 

[x53gunner]

Tim,
Thanks for the quick response. 90% makes perfect sense. The other 10% I'm going to have to get my hands dirty. I'm familiar with the 9 pin RS-232 cables, too bad That's the ONE I don't have! I have DB-25 to DB-9, DB-25 switch box, DB-25 direct(laplink style). So many of my cables have DB-9 one end and DB-25 on the opposite. I need to go to the local serious cable store and pop for an old style external modem cable.

NEW Question: If I have a switch box that has DB-25 on it I can use the cables but I have to ensure the one leading from the box to the computer (the other two will be for the router/switch) is the modem cable. Can I just a null modem adapter?

I've used Hyperterminal on an old Baynetorks switch I was messing around with. No problem here. I'm not well versed in it but the factory manuals for the switch and router show all the menu options and where they lead to. Once I log in I'll get busy with auto negotiate issue and then I'll jump into the IP issue. I really shouldn't sweat the cable modem to switch issue. I was just doing some basic hook-ups to try and check things out. Ideally, I want to put the cable modem into the router and use the router for a hardware firewall then connect the switch to the router so all the computers go through that way. At least this will get me going. Cool. I've seen those IP numbers via the IP CONFIG commands I was using so I should be able to find all those. Usually I find so many numbers I have that deer in the headlight look till I sort it all out.
Offended? Not one bit. Hell, I'm damn thankful you responded and had the "upfrontness" to say get some help or start hitting the books. I pimped some of the network geeks I used to work with and tempted them with some Cuban cigars(real), steak dinners, six pack of favorite micro brew but I guess they don't love me anymore. Hell with'em. I'm learning more in one post than I could have imagined. I just hope the forum doesn't tire of me picking their brain. I'll hit the books first and save the real questions for the real experts. I saved about 15 pages of comments from the archives (so far) and they've been very insightful.

If anyone wants to add or tackle any other issues in my plea for help feel free. You won't hurt my feelings.

Thanks to all,
TJ

 

[TimRegester]

a null modem adaptor should work as well.

Once you have ascertained the IP DHCP range give the switch a number in the upper end of the subnet so the DHCP will not even get to dish it out, purests will no bang on about adjusting the scope, but the real world is simpler, I am probably right in assuming you will not be hanging hundreds of devices off this switch. If you do need to config the Netbuilder let us know much more complex than the switch to config.

 

[x53gunner]

I found a single DB-9 cable but it was male/female so a quick trip to the store netted a gender changer.
Of all things, the Hypertemrinal doesn't seem to be getting through. I've got it set 8,N,1, I've tried both hardware and no flow control. I've set the echo on and while I can see characters if I type them, nothing happens no matter how many times I hit the return key. I tried several times with com ports 1-2 (changed during setup of hyperterminal) and I've also powered down and up to reset but still no response. Damnest thing...

Disregard...The DB-9 cable was obviously NOT correct. I hobbled together a new cable from 3 or four different cables but slipped in the null modem adapter and the first time I hit the enter key twice; I'M IN!

Thanks

TJ

TJ

 

[x53gunner]

OK, here are some cut and pastes of some of the screens:

SuperStack II Switch Status System Up Time: 40 Minutes, 22 Seconds
Number of Resets: 151
Last Reset Type: Command
Version Numbers
Hardware Version: 3
Upgradable Software Version: 3.21
Boot Software Version: 2.00


SuperStack II Switch Management Setup

MAC Address:
Power On Self Test Type: `Normal `
Device IP Address: [140.3.82.250 ] SLIP Address: [0.0.0.0 ]
Device SubNet Mask:[255.255.255.0 ] SLIP SubNet Mask:[0.0.0.0 ]
Default Router: [140.3.82.2
BOOTP Select: `Disabled
IPX Network Node Status Data Link
[00000000] : 08004e0b2580 `Enabled ` Ethernet_802.
[00000000] : 08004e0b2580 `Enabled ` Ethernet_802.
[00000000] : 08004e0b2580 `Enabled ` Ethernet_
[00000000] : 08004e0b2580 `Enabled ` Ethernet_

OK SETUP TRAPS CONSOLE PORT CANCEL


SuperStack II Switch Port Setup

Port ID: 1 Media Type: 10BASE-
Port Speed: 10Mbps HD Port State: `Enable `
Link State: Not Available Lost Links: 0
Refer to the User Guide before changing the settings of these parameters.
Intelligent Flow Management: `Enable `
Security: `Disable`
Disable Interactive Access: `No`
VLT mode: `Disable`
Duplex Mode: `Half Duplex`
VLAN Configuration mode: `Unit Default`
Broadcast Storm Control
Rising Threshold%: [20] Action: `blip port / notify`
Falling Threshold%: [10] Action: `none`

Do you see anything blatantly wrong? I didn't see anything about auto negotiate. I didn't think this unit could do that. Just for a test, I set ports 25 and 26 to full duplex as opposed to half-duplex since that's what I thought the setting should be. I'm going to hook my server and my machine to 25 and 26 so they can fully utilize the 100 MBps to Xfer. I'll hook any others and printers to the 1-24 range. The max download speed(at this time) from the cable modem (via the router eventually) is 5 MBps so the 1-24 ports at 10 MBps will be fine there.

Help me out with your comments;

"The IP address is one in the IP subnet on your LAN usually 192.168.x.x with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 this is the range of IP addresses the Cable modem gives out via DHCP.
AND
"Once you have ascertained the IP DHCP range give the switch a number in the upper end of the subnet so the DHCP will not even get to dish it out...)"

OK, so the cable modem gives me a dynamic address (as opposed to a static) via DHCP. I got that. That number is always going to change so where does that leave me? It's 2 am, I'm fried. Please spell this one out for me. I understand the individual aspects/terms but I'm not getting the point. What are your really trying to convey to me. I definitely got the second part but since I don't really get the first I can't figure what the upper end should be!

Thanks,
TJ

 

[TimRegester]

I take it port 1 is the port connecting the modem to switch. chenge it to full duplex and see what happens. If no connection then either the cable is wrong and swap for a straight thru or crossed cable depending on which you have tried, or either the port on the cable modem is dead or the switch port is dead, or both.

I would then reset the switch to factory defaults using the RESET command off the main menu. Then try again.

As for IP addressing if the cable modem gave an address of 192.168.0.2 to your PC you could change the IP address of the switch to 192.168.0.250 with almost no risk of using an address it will dish out. Subnet mask would be 255.255.255.0 and default router would be same as the Modem gave out. If the subnet mask is different then post your IPconfig details from your PC on here and we can work out the rest.