Fibre Links....Switch

[dave.81]

Wasn't sure where to this but it's mainly hardware so here it is.

I'm just wondering how you guys manage all the fibre links when they get back to the main switch gear. We have currently, and for many years, had one netgear fibre switch with 7 fibre links going into it, has total of 12 ports.

But i have noticed over the past year that it seems to be getting overloaded and it ending up crashing the network needing a hard reboot to clear things.

I guess my main guestion is, is this the best way of doing it, if not how should i do it, if it is how can i easy the stress on it. Replacing this year might not be possible due to budget but options would be grateful.

[Geoff]

Check for firmware updates, maybe you got eaten by a grue. Failing that, new switch.

I would go the firmware route first. I have had in the past a number of brand new Netgear switches that have had the same symptoms as yours has straight out of the box.

After updating with the most recent firmware the problems vanished.

[dave.81]

Firmware scares me i've had 2 netgear switches have to be returned after failed updates i'll look into the latest firmware and see how it goes. Hey if all fails it's only half the school that dies lol :P

[Geoff]

I don't know how your netgear works but the HP ProCurves here have a primary and secondary firmware. If the primary (flash based) firmware fails to load (eg, because of being corrupted during an upload) then it'll load the secondary image (from ROM).

Also, try flashing over the serial management interface, this'll cut out the possibility of network problems interfering with the process.

Originally Posted by Geoff

Also, try flashing over the serial management interface, this'll cut out the possibility of network problems interfering with the process.

Used this method with my Netgears and have not had an issue with a failed update.

[Chris_Jones]

We had a similar issue with a netgear 7212 last year, using that as the central Fibre switch, we tried Firmware updates but ended up replacing it with a HP Procurve switch

[dave.81]

Chris_Jones thats the same switch we have. What did you replace it with from HP?

[Oops_my_bad]

Hmm.. running a 7212 here as our core switch also, latest firmware and no issues. We always do the FW over the serial and this also has a redundant ROM. But you can only fall back over the serial

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by dave.81

Chris_Jones thats the same switch we have. What did you replace it with from HP?

A ProCurve 6200yl + suitable miniGBICs would be a drop in replacement.

http://www.hp.com/rnd/products/switc...C/overview.htm

[sidewinder]

We've got an Extreme Summit 7i - 28 fibre ports + 4 GBIC
Cost a bit but well worth it
However its not expandable at all as far as I know...we've got 20+ fibre connections to different buildings and we're fast running out

[Chris_Jones]

We replaced it, along with our other core switch with a HP Procurve 4100gl with 2x 6 port GBIC Modules and 3x 20 port G/Bit Ethernet modules.

One thing to watch out for, HP Switches only seem to like HP GBIC's - our Netgear ones from the 7212 didnt work.

[plexer]

Yup thats to stop you using cheaper unbranded or other brand mini gbics.

Ben

[dave.81]

Hmm at those kinda prices i better put it in the budget for next year. Will get on with the firmware updates fingers crossed that sorts it. Thanks guys.

[bossman]

Cisco 3550 12G core fibre switch linked to a 3550 12T which carries all copper Gig connections from servers. All the other 3560 48 port switches Gbic fibre into 12G core switch. Has worked very well for 5 years all firmware is centrally updated via the cluster management tool.