Catalyst Express 500 Series Switches

[assalihin]

This is something I have hard time figuring out.

I purchased a bunch of 500 24 series.

I configured them with a static ip and the default smart ports (1-4= APs; 5-20=Desktops; 21-24=Switches,routers)

I connected them to my existing Nortel backbone to start before taking the Nortels out. As soon as I did I had a network storm that brought my network down, and when I try to ping them I couldn't!

Did I miss something?

The first time I tried connecting them through the G1 and g2 ports, that created the storm. The second time I connected them through port 24 and that didn't create the storm but still couldn't get network connectivity.

I used crossover to attach them to the Nortels.

[meballard]

Are you connected multiple ports between the Catalyst Express and the Nortel switch? If so, those connections either need to be bonded (ie etherchannel) or you need spanning tree running between the Catalyst Express and the Nortel switches.

[assalihin]

No, just one for now. I am not using channeling yet.

[meballard]

Just to confirm, you tried connecting just port Gi1 from the CatExpress to a Nortel, and you got flooding? or not until you connected a second CatExpress in the same manner (with no connections between the CatExpresses)?

[assalihin]

That's correct. just port Gi1 from the CatExpress to a Nortel, and I got flooding.

And when I use port 24 I don't even get network connectivity.