Amber light on 2960S Port

[stomilson1]

I am not an IT person but do require the need to do some networking for standalone networks for our security systems. ie cameras etc.

I have one particular Catalyst 2960S that has an amber connection light.  Usually I see these initially go amber on connection then green once established.  What does the amber light mean?

When I first installed this switch I had nothing connected to it other than my laptop on one port and my main connection to my main security rack switch.  This main connection is via coax and a couple Comnet units due to distance.

I could see my camera recorders and anything else on my network no problem(even with this amber light).  Once I started connecting other cameras to this particular switch I would lose my connection to my main rack.  No PING or anything to my camera recorders.  I will be back troubleshooting this after the weekend but was curious about an answer for the Amber connection light.

As far as I can see from documents the port lights should always be green.  I initially thought the amber light indicated a connection speed but I don't think that is the case now.

Any help?

[Milos Megis]

Hi,
If you have selected to show "status" with front button, then amber led means that port is not forwarding due to STP algorithm.

If you don´t have configured spanning-tree portfast then you will see 30 seconds amber LED and then green. Switch is forwarding frames only if port LED lights green.

If you select "speed" or "duplex" with front button then amber LED means something else, according to selected option.