Catalyst switch hanging on Link Status Process

reinderien · ‎12-02-2017

I have a very old switch, a WS-C2950C-24. I've tried IOS both C2950-I6K2L2Q4-M, Version 12.1(22)EA7 (what I got it with) and EA14 (the most recent one I could dig up on the fora, since Cisco no longer offers this download). I've tried flashing via xmodem and tftp.

The switch might have bad hardware - I hope not, because it's obviously way out of warranty. Every few minutes the terminal gets flooded with messages like these:

%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/23, changed state to down
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/24, changed state to down
%LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed state to up
%LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/3, changed state to up
%LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/4, changed state to up
%LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/23, changed state to down
%LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/24, changed state to down
cmic_write_miim ERROR: timeout (addr=0x14 id=0x00 data=0x9900)

[...]

00:39:56: %PLATFORM_HW-3-MIIM_OP_FAILURE: 
 Unable to read PHY register at addr 14 for phy id 0
strata_cmic_read_miim ERROR: 
                    timeout (addr=0x01 id=0x00)

00:39:56: %PLATFORM_HW-3-MIIM_OP_FAILURE: 
 Unable to read PHY register at addr 1 for phy id 0
strata_cmic_read_miim ERROR: 
                    timeout (addr=0x01 id=0x01)

%SYS-3-CPUHOG: Task ran for 3624 msec (1413/47), process = Link Status Process, PC = 803584E0.
-Traceback= 803584E8

00:31:49: %PLATFORM_HW-3-MEM_READ_FAILURE: 
 Read memory failed for memory VTABLE at index 2
SCHAN_HDR <CPU=0 COS=0 ECODE=0 EBIT=0 
00:31:49: LEN=0 src=5 DST=0 OP=7=READ_MEM_CMD>
00:31:49: SCHAN_DW[0]=0x1C014000
00:31:49: SCHAN_DW[1]=0x05000002
00:31:49: SCHAN_DW[2]=0x80D6D678
00:31:49: SCHAN_DW[3]=0x808FBFEC
00:31:49: SCHAN_DW[4]=0x00000039
00:31:50: %PLATFORM_HW-3-MEM_READ_FAILURE: 

[...]

00:45:56: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed state to down
00:45:57: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/3, changed state to down
00:45:57: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/4, changed state to down
00:45:57: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/23, changed state to up
00:45:58: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/24, changed state to up

This happens on both the EA7 and EA14 firmware versions, regardless of whether I have any ethernet cables connected to the switch or not. I've checked inside the case and there does not appear to be any loose connectors, dirt or dust.

Is this actually indicative of bad hardware, or is there a workaround?

Georg Pauwen · ‎12-02-2017

Hello,

the switch is (obviously) very old, so you might simply experience a hardware failure. One of the first things to malfunction in these devices is the fan. Since you say you have already opened the chassis, boot the switch with the chassis open and check if the fan works appropriately...

reinderien · ‎12-02-2017

@Georg Pauwen wrote:

...boot the switch with the chassis open and check if the fan works appropriately

The fan's blowing, and it doesn't feel like it's running very hot.

Leo Laohoo · ‎12-02-2017

Post the complete output to the command "sh post".

I think the switch is dead.