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Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

Title:DEChub/HUBwatch/PROBEwatch CONFERENCE
Notice:Firmware -2, Doc -3, Power -4, HW kits -5, firm load -6&7
Moderator:NETCAD::COLELLADT
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4455
Total number of notes:16761

4446.0. "MULTIswitch 624T Connectivity Problem" by KERNEL::FREKES (A Freke Occurrence) Mon Jun 02 1997 08:32

Folks

I have a customer who had a few braindead modules, after attempting to upgrade 
the firmware. He has managed to get those fixed. but has brought another 
problem to my attention. Not having had much exposure to these can anyone here
please point me in the right direction.

Steven, I have managed to restore all the modules to 1.1, however I have
another problem. The stack is configured as:

4. stack station + 624T + 12 additional ports
3. stack station + 624T + 12 additional ports
2. stack station + 624T + 12 additional ports
1. Stack director + 624T + AUI mm10

If I connect thin wire ethernet to the BNC connector on the back of the
stack director I can contact the stack with clearvisn. However if I
connect the stack to the network via the AUI MM10 (and a BNC transceiver)
it will not talk to clearvisn.

If I connect thin wire ethernet to the BNC connector on the back of the
stack director, the backplane activity lights go on all four modules, but
if it is connected via the AUI MM10 only the bottom of the stack backplane
led flashes with traffic.

Any ideas how to pipe the AUI mm10 into the stack backplane so that it
will reach all levels of the stack and I can use clearvisn with it?


Any input would be greatly appreciatted.

Regards
	Steven Freke
    
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4446.1Can't say for certain...NETCAD::THAYER...the hegemony of clarity...Mon Jun 02 1997 18:5348
>If I connect thin wire ethernet to the BNC connector on the back of the
>stack director I can contact the stack with clearvisn. However if I
>connect the stack to the network via the AUI MM10 (and a BNC transceiver)
>it will not talk to clearvisn.


	Sounds like the Slot 1 624T Port Group w/ AUI is not connected to the 
	Backplane TW. The Stack Director itself only talks to the backplane
	on Backplane TW, not any of the other LAN's. Using Clearvisn attach 
	the Slot 1 Port Group containing the AUI to the Backplane TW.

		1) View LAN Interconnect
		2) Select Slot 1 624T
		3) Click on Port Switch Button
		4) Attach TW to Ports 13-24 & MM10 B
		5) Back in the LAN Interconnect, pull down Slot 1 
		   TW Pull Down thingie (the blue one) to the Backplane TW.

	Alternatively, if Clearvisn is not possible, use the console port 
	on the Stack Director to do a Factory Reset of the 624T in Slot 1. 
	This forces both banks of ports into 1 port group and attaches that 
	port group to the Backplane TW. At this point the TW attached to the 
	AUI should be connected to the Stack Director through the Backplane TW
	and so ClearVision should be able to do it's thing.

	Be forewarned that this scheme of managing through the AUI MM10
	has it's drawbacks. If for some reason the 624T in slot 1 fails 
	the management connection to the Stack will be lost. To avoid 
	this the Stack Director has it's own ports.

>If I connect thin wire ethernet to the BNC connector on the back of the
>stack director, the backplane activity lights go on all four modules, but
>if it is connected via the AUI MM10 only the bottom of the stack backplane
>led flashes with traffic.

	This confirms my suspicion that the Slot 1 AUI MM10 is not
	connected to the Backplane TW. It sounds like Slot 1 banks are 
	separated into 2 port groups, and Bank A is connected to the
	Backplane TW and Bank B (with the AUI MM10) is not. When the
	thin wire ethernet is attached to the Stack Director, I bet the 
	first of the 3 backplane activity lights goes on, indicating that 
	the Bank A has activity through the Backplane TW. But if the 
	thin wire ethernet is attached to the AUI MM10 then its the 
	middle of the 3 backplane activity lights which goes on, 
	indicating traffic on Bank B.

	Sounds like some basic training in Clearvisn and the MS600
	may be in order.
4446.2Still not workingKERNEL::FREKESA Freke OccurrenceTue Jun 03 1997 09:4932
    I have just recoved the following mail from the customer.
    
    None of this works I am afraid. I have tried both methods suggested to
    no
    avail. Please let me know exactly what info you require to fix this
    problem. The MM10-B just will not connect to the thinwire - why?
    
    As for you asking why management was necessary through the AUI port on
    the front - the reason is because there is no AUI port on the stack
    director back panel. A very silly omission. These repeaters are all
    situated a long way apart and you have to use fibre.
    
    Allow me to expand and describe the various settings that clearvisn
    shows:
    
    Lan interconnect shows four devices, device 1 (bottom of stack) has a
    blue thingy pulled down to thinwire backplane - the thingy has a number 3 
    on it, all the other devices 2 to 4 have their blue thingys pulled down to
    the thinwire, they have a number 4 on them. Theres also a green/brown
    thingy for all the devices with the number 1 on it and they are not
    pulled down to a backplane lan.
    
    Pulling up the port switch dialog for device 1 shows that ports 13-24 and
    MM10-B are connected to the thinwire.
    
    Does the fact I have only one MM-10 installed make any difference?
    There is a hole in the front of the repeater because no MM-10 blanking plate
    was provided.
    
    Any further input is appreciatted.
    
    Steven F
4446.3Hmmm...NETCAD::THAYER...the hegemony of clarity...Tue Jun 03 1997 10:5853
	With your stack configured as you've described it, it
	ought to be working. I tested it out in the lab and it
	worked just fine. I can't say why your's isn't. Here are
	a few things to try out.

     1)	Make sure the Stack Director's TW is terminated correctly.
	If there is no cable attached, put on a single terminator
	(no T's).

     2) Make sure the AUI MM10 is in port B, the right hand position.
	Due to power limitations port A doesn't get the 12v needed
	by AUI.

     3)	Remove and reinsert the MM10 and carrier card to make
	sure all contacts are clean. Make sure the cards are inserted
	fully and their screws torqued down tight.

     4)	Make sure the TW MAU attached to the MM10 actually works.
	If possible test it our on another installation.

     5)	If the above fail, it may be a hardware failure. Try to
	isolate the fault by swapping the carrier card/MM10 into
	another 624T. It may be time to get field service involved.
	(Maybe that's you!)


>    Does the fact I have only one MM-10 installed make any difference?

	It should work fine with only one MM10.

>    There is a hole in the front of the repeater because no MM-10 blanking 
>    plate was provided.

	Either a blanking plate or MM10 should have been installed
	in the factory. To ensure proper airflow through the module,
	please cover up the open hole. A bit of tape will suffice.

>    As for you asking why management was necessary through the AUI port on
>    the front - the reason is because there is no AUI port on the stack
>    director back panel. A very silly omission. 

	This is supposedly a low cost system. For low cost
	you don't get everything. I suppose it can be debated
	whether the right things were included and the right things
	left out. If the feature you need was left out, you will
	undoubtedly believe the wrong choice was made. Sorry...

>    These repeaters are all situated a long way apart and you have 
>    to use fibre.

	As good a reason as I can think of.

4446.4incorrectly terminatedKERNEL::FREKESA Freke OccurrenceWed Jun 04 1997 10:269
    
    >1) Make sure the Stack Director's TW is terminated correctly.
    
    This was the problem. I just recieved a mail saying that he checked
    this, and he had T -Piece.
    
    Thanks for all your help.
    
    Steven