Flash firmware SLM2048T without using network

[bartgrefte]

A while back I came across an eBay auction of a SLM2048T that was sold for parts since it was malfunctioning and I was hoping it would be something fixable, unfortunately I haven't had any luck.

When the switch is powered on, the fans start spinning, all port LED's briefly light up twice, then stay off (when disconnected) and the system LED is blinking green continuously.

When I hook up a device, either a different switch or my laptop, the port LED's of the used ports light up and indicate a gigabit link and (some) activity.

Unfortunately, the switch won't make itself available over the network. It won't respond (webinterface, ping and networkscan) using the default IP, nor does it send out a DHCP-request (checked router logs and Wireshark) and I even had a networkscan program scan all private IP ranges, with no result.

I've also tried resetting the switch several times, holding the reset button 30s and also tried the 30/30/30-method, no change.

When I came across a topic of someone's switch being stuck in a reboot loop (which I cannot check due to lack of a console port) that was caused by a broken resetbutton,  I desoldered and replaced the resetbutton hoping it was as simple as a broken button, it wasn't that either.

I also contacted Cisco support, they couldn't give my any other troubleshooting idea's, plus the switch in question is no longer supported.

The only thing I can think of now is to find a way to do a firmware flash using one of the headers on the circuitboard in the switch, but there's no documentation about that, nor can't or won't the Cisco support give me info about this.

Has anyone figured out how to do a firmware flash using the headers inside the switch?

[marce1000]

Forget it and the device too, in all honesty. M.

[bartgrefte]

I'm not giving up so easily, please post something helpful

[pieterh]

maybe info from this post may help: Solved: SLM2048 - Cisco Community

In order to access the switch with a web-based interface, you must know the management IP address of the switch. The default configuration of the switch is to use its factory default IP address of 192.168.1.254 until it has obtained an IP address from a DHCP server, or it has been changed to a static IP address.

When the switch is using the factory default IP address, its System LED flashes continuously.  

please regard  marce1000 's post as a serious option ,
this is a very old switch and you must see your (and our) efforts is the right perspective

Cisco SLM2048 48-port Gigabit Smart Switch - SFPs - Retirement Notification

The Cisco SLM2048 48-port Gigabit Smart Switch - SFPs is now obsolete (past End-of-Life and End-of-Support status).

• End-of-Sale Date: 2011-08-11

• End-of-Support Date: 2016-08-11

[bartgrefte]

I already tried that, see first post, the switch won't make itself available over the network on any private IP.

And I know it's an old one, but old doesn't mean obsolete. Such a switch is still usable, no matter it's age. If I can get it to work...

A while back I came across a topic (that I cannot seem to find again right now) that mentioned a problem that was about the boot process, that the switch (same series if I remember correctly) got stuck in some kind of test during the boot process. The only solution was to RMA the switch and there was no info about the cause of the problem and what the solution was, but if it's something like that, does Cisco just throw the switch in the trash and send a new one? If it's a firmware issue, that would be a waste of perfectly good hardware, wouldn't it?

That's why I'm hoping there's some firmware-recovery/-update procedure that uses the headers in the switch.

[pieterh]

I cannot find any info about the headers in the switch, so I'll leave it to someone else

If you're lucky the header may be similar to another Linksys device?

Linksys Blue Box Router HOWTO

[marce1000]

                >...If it's a firmware issue, that would be a waste of perfectly good hardware, wouldn't it?

  No it wouldn't using supported hardware as being confirmed with : https://cway.cisco.com/sncheck/ gives the benefit of software updates and support in case of critical network issues being experienced. In a worst case scenario on old-device could bring down the network, although less chance for that I must admit. Further more update procedure that uses the headers in the switch , is something that no-one on this forum has ever heard off.            That should ring a 'serious' bell too....

 M.