WAN Port on a 2950 Switch??

NickStAubyn · ‎02-23-2003

We've got a 2950-24 switch with three LANs connected to it. The switch is then connected to a router for internet access. All of the LANs use DHCP, with a second NIC in a server connecting to the switch. The LANs all work fine, but they can't connect to the internet via the router. Do I have to tell the switch that the port connected to the router is a WAN port?? At the moment when the port is connected to the router, the status LED changes to amber indicating a 'problem'! All of the ports are in VLAN1, and that has been assigned an IP address so I can manage the switch. I can mange it from the internal network, but not from the internet. (It is a public IP). Please point me in the right direction to sort this problem.

Thanks

Nick

donewald · ‎02-23-2003

Nick,

Amber light means the port is not forwarding. So, since this connection to your router is amber this is why you most probably cannot get out to the internet. You might have a bridging loop, where STP has put the port into a disabled (blocking state) or the port is not enabled. You should not have to, if all ports are in the same VLAN do anything (configure WAN port). Here is a good think on 2950 troubleshooting that should help you identify your specific issue.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/products/hw/switches/ps628/products_installation_guide_chapter09186a008007eadc.html#39834

See Port LEDs for the color codes:

Solid Amber - Port is not forwarding. Port was disabled by management, an address violation, or Spanning Tree Protocol (STP).

Hope this helps you,

Don

NickStAubyn · ‎02-24-2003

Thanks for the link - unfortuntely I can't access it! If I login and then try to go for the link it says authorisation failed, although I can access other parts of the site that require a login!?!

Th port on the switch is enabled, and there is only one path to the router from any of the LANs (through the switch). There are no duplicate addresses on the LAN's. So what can cause errors with the Spanning Tree Protocol? (If I connect the switch to the router and disconnect all of the other ports, the port still goes amber.)

Thanks

lgijssel · ‎02-24-2003

Amber leds can mean spanningtree-blocked or media-mismatch.

Did you check the speed & duplex settings on the router and switch?

It may be a problem that the switchport is configured as a trunk.

On a 3550 I had a problem with a 10/100/1000 port connecting to a 3640 Fast Ethernet. The speed & duplex has to be set to AUTO, otherwise the leds are amber and there is no connection.

Hope this helps,

Leo

netops01 · ‎02-24-2003

Are the router interface speed and duplex settings matching the switch port? Try setting them at both ends. I did have a similar problem once, turned out to be the cable from switch to router!

NickStAubyn · ‎02-24-2003

Thanks - hadn't thought of that! The router is 10Mb half-duplex. I just assumed (possibly dangerously!) that the switch would be auto-configuring on the port. I'll double check the configuration - unfortunately it means a 100mile round trip to the site, as I can't manage it remotely!!