Topic: Problems Changing From Hub to a Switch ?

[Caos]

Hello
i use a network to access the net via  a esmith V5. Everything was working perfectly untill i swaped my soho 4 port hub for a soho 8 port swtich. I connected everything the same way but the client pc's and  the server can not communicate to each other ?
Everthign seem to work fine on the switch?

Can anybody shed anylight on the problem i am experiening?

[Anthony]

I went from an 8 port Surecom hub to an 8 port Surecom switch
with no problems at all.

Most switches have lights for network speed (10 or 100)
and duplex (half or full).   What lights are coming on?

It may be possible your clients and the switch are not negotiating
correctly on speed and duplex.

Its difficult with most Nics to know what they are operating at.

[Kelvin]

Are your NICs 10/100 Mbps cards or pure 10 or pure 100Mbps NICs. Is the switch 10/100 or again pure 10 or pure 100Mbps ?

Some lower cost switches are pure 100Mbps and will not work with any client using 10Mbps NICs. If the switch is 10/100Mbps or if the cards and the switch match up, there is no reason they will not work.

Kelvin

[Caos]

thanks for your info every one

Yes the hub is 10/10 and all the clients have 10/100 crads in them?
one thing odd though.
the top row of green lights tend to flash intermitently .. i think i could be trying to communicate with one another and the bottom row (duplex) lights remain steady green ?

[Geoff Bennion]

Is the switch a managed switch ? - i.e. can you configure it from the web/telnet/serial port ?
If yes, it may have subnetting setup on it, or some have packet filtering.

Can a client ping a client ? - You may have to set the client IP addresses manually.

Can you see clients from the e-smith box ( iptraf may help )

Have you tried a new cable between the e-smith and switch ? - I've seen a dodgy cable cause all sorts of intermittent faults.

[Brian Henderson]

You don't say which make or model the switch is - with it being SOHO i am guessing that it will not be a managed switch.

I upgraded my 3Com Office Connect Dual Speed Hub 8 port to a 3Com Superstack III TM 25 port managed switch with absolutely no problems what so ever

[Caos]

Your Right it is a generic non managed switch. I put the same brand hub back on the network everything works fine buit when i connect the switch they just cant communicate. i get green light indications that they are plugged in. I am thinking it coulb be clashing with one of the Networks cards of the swithc may be a dud?

regards
ugur
P.s thanks for all those who have tryed to help by replying )))

[Kelvin]

It should not matter whether it's managed or not. If you simply ripping out a normal hub and replacing it with a switch right out of a box, it should just work. I do this on a weekly basis with clients upgrading.

I'd suggest going back to basics.

Try connecting just two Win9x PCs and activate file / printer sharing and see if they work. Remember, just because you cannot browse the network via Network Neighbourhood does NOT mean networking is not working. A ping test is usually better. If won't work, I'd suggest you take the switch back for another.

Kelvin