Cisco 2950G-48-TC-L + Broadcom NetXtreme Server BCM5715 Port Speed Problem

[djbowling]

All,

I have a Cisco 2950G-48-TC-L switch and  a quad port Broadcom NetXtreme Server BCM5715 NIC.

I cannot get the port speed to a full 1 Gig Full duplex. I have both the Cisco and the client's NIC set to AUTO/AUTO for speed / duplex - and the best it can do is 100mbps / full duplex.

If i hard code the Cisco to 1 Gbps / full duplex then the client will loose connectivity/port link.

If i hard code both the Cisco and the client at 1 Gbps / full duplex then the client will also loose connectivity/port link.

If i hard code only the clients NIC, and leave the Cisco at AUTO/AUTO, then the client will also loose connectivity/port link.

Only if i set a lower 10/100mbps OR leave both set to AUTO/AUTO,  does the clients NIC connect to the Cisco switch. But this leaves me at 100mpbs at best..  I need 1Gbps...

This is the tricky part... I have a 1Gbps hub that i have used the current Cat5E cables to connect to the Cisco .. That gives me a full 1Gbps/Full duplex.

If i use the same CAT5E cable and connect the clients BroadCom NetXtreme BCM5715 Nic to the Gig. hub, i also get a 1Gbps/full duplex connection.....

HOWEVER - if i connect the clients NIC to the Ciscos port --- then i only get a 100mbp / full duplex connection... WTF....

I have played around with the duplex / port speed settings and just simply cannot get the Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5715 to connect to the Cisco 2950G-48-TC-L at a rate of 1Gbps/full duplex...

Has any one had experience with this hardware configuration... Can someone please help me out here, im in a pinch to get this working right..

TIA

Drumgod...

[Leo Laohoo]

I don't want go around a dead horse but it's always a network fault.  I had a similar issue with an Intel NIC chip and Intel/HP doesn't want to hear anything and kept blaming Cisco.  It took a Cisco Senior SE to let me know that it's because of the NIC's and the switch (WS-C3524XL-EN) inability to auto-negotiate jitter.  The bad news about it is even in Cisco Release Note was very inadequate.

[sachinraja]

"

If i connect this broadcom NIC to any other Cisco - i only get 100Mbps speed. I have tried 4 different Cisco switches at this point..

2960G x2

3750G x2"

This makes more insight to the issue.. since it doesnt work with most of the gig switches on the network, i think its the NIC card which might be faulty ! Im not really sure about the drivers or other software to make this NIC work, but the cisco side seems good to me !

Regards

Raj

[djbowling]

May i suggest that this network card be publised as incompatiable with the current Cisco 2960G-24-TC-L switch. I think we have verified that this network card is not compatiable. I'd like to see some official documenation stating that fact. Im sure it would help others that might have the same problem.

The NIC is manufactured by broadcom (BCM5715) but sold under the name AEI E1400C...

[sachinraja]

Hi

If the switch is under support contract, you can open a tac, and the cisco personnel would check this against his internal database of issues.. he can infact simulate this in his lab, and check ! not sure how to get this documented, but Cisco TAC is the way to go !

Raj

[danrya]

I would recommend having a case opened with Cisco TAC.  They have a lot of commands to help figure out what is going on with this.  Take a look at this:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/software/release/12.2_52_se/command/reference/showplat.html#wp1023013

I wouldn't recommend running these commands without TAC guidance.  They can be disruptive to the network (when not running at 1G speed).

Dan